BY PEG KENYON AND JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writers
IN SHORT: Central Arkansas Water to pay $13.5 million, while local utilities pitch in $30.5 million, double earlier estimates.
A $44 million water project that will end Jacksonville’s, Cabot’s and North Pulaski Water Association’s dependence on well water is underway with a transmission line that is heading north from Little Rock-based Central Arkansas Water.
All the work, including a bid of $6.7 million to lay two 30-inch steel pipes under the I-430 bridge spanning the Arkansas River, has been about twice as much as expected, but all those involved say they will pay their part to keep the project moving ahead. CAW will pay $13.5 million for its part of the $44 million project and Jack-sonville, Cabot and North Pulaski Water Association will pay $30.5 million.
When the Lake Maumelle project first started three years ago, Cabot and Jacksonville expected to pay about $7 million each and North Pulaski expected to pay $800,000 for their part of upgrades to a CAW pumping station and to lay water lines under I-430. Now, all three will have to pay twice that amount and none say they are willing to pull out of the project because they have no other good option for water for the future.
A sign stands on the site where a water tank will be built between the Redmond Road railroad tracks and the south end of the newly-developed Hidden Oaks subdivision in Jacksonville. The sign reads that upon completion, the elevated tank will hold one million gallons of water. The cost to build the water tower is set at $2 million and is not included in the $44 million to connect to CAW.
One of two transmission lines taking water north (called the Northbelt transmission line) that will connect CAW to Jacksonville at this site in about four or five years, said Ken Anderson, Jacksonville Water Department general manager.
It will follow the route of existing railroad tracks toward the Brushy Island area. Going past the Two Pines landfill, this transmission line will tie into one of CAW’s existing lines. Anderson estimated the cost to lay the water pipeline at $4.5 million. This part of the project requires easements as well. “There are only three or four major landowners on this side, and the landfill has already agreed to it,” Anderson said.
A second, more costly transmission line heading toward Gravel Ridge to the west of Jacksonville must also be completed, but its exact route has yet to be determined. “At the end of the project, Jacksonville will have four tanks and maybe a fifth one, depending on the Sher-wood annexation,”Anderson said.
At the request of property owners, Jacksonville plans to annex undeveloped land, which includes an area to the north and east of Bayou Meto.
Local funding to cover expenditures for the project has already begun. In 2005, Jacksonville’s water rates increased 28 percent. Cabot’s doubled at about the same time.
This year, Jacksonville raised its rates another 12.5 percent and a 10.5 percent increase is planned for 2007. Cabot borrowed $21 million from the Arkansas Natural Re-sources Commission (then called Soil and Water) to pay its part of getting CAW water to Gravel Ridge and to build a 30-inch transmission line from Gravel Ridge to Cabot, but Tim Joyner, general manager of Cabot WaterWorks, said about $10 million more will be needed.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
TOP STORY >>New rules could oust young vets from VFW halls
BY PAUL PETERSON
Leader staff writer
They are old enough to go to war and die but can’t smoke in a public building. That seems to be the view the state is taking with young veterans, and it’s one that concerns Veterans of Foreign Wars commanders.
Jacksonville VFW Post 4548 Commander Don Reynolds said he understands what legislators are trying to accomplish with the smoking ban, but also believes the matter needs further examination to determine whether or not it will be as effective as it is anticipated to be.
“Well, I think they need to look at it a little closer,” Reynolds said. “We do a lot of charity work, kids activities here, especially around Christmas. It’s gonna hurt the kids more than it will us. The way the Clean Air Act is written now, we can’t let them in the building.”
The new state law bans smoking in workplaces and takes effect July 21. It exempts certain establishments, including bars that don’t allow anyone under the age of 21 on the premises.
With an exemption, many military-service organizations could allow smoking but would have to post a sign saying anyone under 21 would not be allowed in.
“We’ve got 18, 19, 20-year-olds who are in Iraq and who can buy cigarettes, but they can’t come into our place,” Reynolds complained.
“It’s a concern of ours because we can ask them to join the VFW, but they can’t participate and it really makes it bad,’’ said Bill Hill, commander of VFW Post 2278 in Hot Springs. “Probably 50 to 60 percent of those in Iraq are in that young age group and when they come home, they’ve got no place to go, and I’m having a hard time accepting that,’’ said Hill.
Reynolds and other VFW commanders believe the law is a bad situation for the VFWs, American Legions and other service clubs, he said. “This is not what we went to war and fought for,’’ Reynolds said.
Reynolds said the VFW members would have to decide if the post would be either all smoking or all non-smoking. “There’s no way we could survive if we went all non-smoking. I understand it’s still up in the air until we get some sure-fire definition of how it’s going to work. It’ll require them to look at this a lot deeper,” Reynolds said.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Leader staff writer
They are old enough to go to war and die but can’t smoke in a public building. That seems to be the view the state is taking with young veterans, and it’s one that concerns Veterans of Foreign Wars commanders.
Jacksonville VFW Post 4548 Commander Don Reynolds said he understands what legislators are trying to accomplish with the smoking ban, but also believes the matter needs further examination to determine whether or not it will be as effective as it is anticipated to be.
“Well, I think they need to look at it a little closer,” Reynolds said. “We do a lot of charity work, kids activities here, especially around Christmas. It’s gonna hurt the kids more than it will us. The way the Clean Air Act is written now, we can’t let them in the building.”
The new state law bans smoking in workplaces and takes effect July 21. It exempts certain establishments, including bars that don’t allow anyone under the age of 21 on the premises.
With an exemption, many military-service organizations could allow smoking but would have to post a sign saying anyone under 21 would not be allowed in.
“We’ve got 18, 19, 20-year-olds who are in Iraq and who can buy cigarettes, but they can’t come into our place,” Reynolds complained.
“It’s a concern of ours because we can ask them to join the VFW, but they can’t participate and it really makes it bad,’’ said Bill Hill, commander of VFW Post 2278 in Hot Springs. “Probably 50 to 60 percent of those in Iraq are in that young age group and when they come home, they’ve got no place to go, and I’m having a hard time accepting that,’’ said Hill.
Reynolds and other VFW commanders believe the law is a bad situation for the VFWs, American Legions and other service clubs, he said. “This is not what we went to war and fought for,’’ Reynolds said.
Reynolds said the VFW members would have to decide if the post would be either all smoking or all non-smoking. “There’s no way we could survive if we went all non-smoking. I understand it’s still up in the air until we get some sure-fire definition of how it’s going to work. It’ll require them to look at this a lot deeper,” Reynolds said.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
TOP STORY >> Smokers to put butts out
BY RICK KRON AND PAUL PETERSON
Leader staff writers
On one side, a group is asking all Arkansans to eat out at their favorite restaurants on July 21 to show support for the statewide smoking ban, which goes into effect that day.
On the other side, a local radio station is calling for a smoke-in the day before the ban starts to protest government’s continued intrusion into the rights of business owners.
And Gerald Grummer, manager of Jacksonville’s Western Sizzlin just wants things to be fair.
The Clean Indoor Air Act, which bans smoking in most public places, was approved during a special legislative session in April. The ban includes exemptions for small hotels, nursing homes and Oaklawn Park thoroughbred racetrack and Southland Grey-hound Park in West Memphis.
Tobacco shops and home-based businesses with fewer than three employees are also exempt.
The statewide ban also exempts any bars that don’t allow anyone under the age of 21 on the premises.
Overall, Jacksonville has about 40 restaurants and about a dozen of them have smoking sections. Sherwood numbers about the same, while Cabot has about eight restaurants which allow smoking.
“As long as we are all on a level playing field, I’m okay with it,” Grum-mer said. His restaurant, on John Harden, currently has a smoking section. “But it doesn’t get much use, so I don’t think we’ll be hurt any,” he said.
The Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas is planning the “Dine Out in Arkansas” event to celebrate the start of the smoking ban.
Many restaurant owners claimed the ban would take away business and the “Dine Out in Arkansas” event may allay some of those fears, according to the group’s executive director, Kathe-rine Donald. “We’re just trying to bring about additional awareness to the new indoor clean-air law,” she said.
Meanwhile, KARN radio is sponsoring a gathering Thursday, July 20, from 8:30 to 11:45 a.m. at Julie’s Restaurant in Little Rock to protest the heavy-handedness of government and the hypocrisies in the new law, according to the station’s morning host, Kevin Gordon.
“About 75 percent of all businesses are already smoke-free. This ban, with the exemptions, may raise that to 85 percent. All this work for just 10 to 15 percent. Where’s the tobacco funding for education and incentives to get businesses to go smoke-free?” Gordon asked.
Zaffino’s Italian Restaurant in Sherwood will convert to a non-smoking atmosphere on the day the law takes effect, Friday, July 21, said owner Nori Fryar. “We just got a letter today from the Health Depart-ment explaining how the law works,” she said.
“Customers will not be able to smoke inside, but can outside in our patio dining area.” Fryar explained.
Kathy Meyer, who helps Fryar manage the restaurant, said the law shouldn’t have any profound effects on business, even without the indoor smoking section. “I don’t think we’ll have any problems,” Meyer said. “Right now, we maybe have four or five tables a night of smokers who can take about 10 steps and be right on our outdoor patio.”
Fryar does plan to accommodate his employees who smoke. “We have young adults who work here that can smoke outside on their breaks,” Fryar said.
Waffle House, which is synonymous with coffee and cigarettes, has started to build benches outside its local restaurants to accommodate smokers. “Our smoking customers are just as valuable as everyone else and we don’t want to lose them,” a local spokesperson said. “But we will abide by the law,” she said.
Waffle House, like other restaurants, will have signs posted, but it doesn't plan to make a big deal if someone lights up. “We’ll very politely ask them to put it out or take it outside,” the spokesperson said.
Patty Diptroni at the Goal Post, just north of Jacksonville, said. “We’re not affected at all because you’ve got to be 21 to enter here.”
Larry Wallace with Chili’s in Jacksonville said, “I’m not allowed to comment right now, but we’re a family establishment and we’ll abide by the law as it’s written.”
Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, director for Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Health Advance-ment, said restaurant owners should not worry. She said that in other states with similar bans, business at restaurants and bars has increased since smoking bans were imposed.
“There are a lot of non-smokers who wouldn’t ordinarily be going to those restaurants and bars because they’re too smoky,” Dillaha said. “In Arkansas there are three times as many nonsmokers as there are smokers, so I’m anticipating that there will be a similar result here.”
Associated Press writer Annie Bergman contributed to this article.
Leader staff writers
On one side, a group is asking all Arkansans to eat out at their favorite restaurants on July 21 to show support for the statewide smoking ban, which goes into effect that day.
On the other side, a local radio station is calling for a smoke-in the day before the ban starts to protest government’s continued intrusion into the rights of business owners.
And Gerald Grummer, manager of Jacksonville’s Western Sizzlin just wants things to be fair.
The Clean Indoor Air Act, which bans smoking in most public places, was approved during a special legislative session in April. The ban includes exemptions for small hotels, nursing homes and Oaklawn Park thoroughbred racetrack and Southland Grey-hound Park in West Memphis.
Tobacco shops and home-based businesses with fewer than three employees are also exempt.
The statewide ban also exempts any bars that don’t allow anyone under the age of 21 on the premises.
Overall, Jacksonville has about 40 restaurants and about a dozen of them have smoking sections. Sherwood numbers about the same, while Cabot has about eight restaurants which allow smoking.
“As long as we are all on a level playing field, I’m okay with it,” Grum-mer said. His restaurant, on John Harden, currently has a smoking section. “But it doesn’t get much use, so I don’t think we’ll be hurt any,” he said.
The Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas is planning the “Dine Out in Arkansas” event to celebrate the start of the smoking ban.
Many restaurant owners claimed the ban would take away business and the “Dine Out in Arkansas” event may allay some of those fears, according to the group’s executive director, Kathe-rine Donald. “We’re just trying to bring about additional awareness to the new indoor clean-air law,” she said.
Meanwhile, KARN radio is sponsoring a gathering Thursday, July 20, from 8:30 to 11:45 a.m. at Julie’s Restaurant in Little Rock to protest the heavy-handedness of government and the hypocrisies in the new law, according to the station’s morning host, Kevin Gordon.
“About 75 percent of all businesses are already smoke-free. This ban, with the exemptions, may raise that to 85 percent. All this work for just 10 to 15 percent. Where’s the tobacco funding for education and incentives to get businesses to go smoke-free?” Gordon asked.
Zaffino’s Italian Restaurant in Sherwood will convert to a non-smoking atmosphere on the day the law takes effect, Friday, July 21, said owner Nori Fryar. “We just got a letter today from the Health Depart-ment explaining how the law works,” she said.
“Customers will not be able to smoke inside, but can outside in our patio dining area.” Fryar explained.
Kathy Meyer, who helps Fryar manage the restaurant, said the law shouldn’t have any profound effects on business, even without the indoor smoking section. “I don’t think we’ll have any problems,” Meyer said. “Right now, we maybe have four or five tables a night of smokers who can take about 10 steps and be right on our outdoor patio.”
Fryar does plan to accommodate his employees who smoke. “We have young adults who work here that can smoke outside on their breaks,” Fryar said.
Waffle House, which is synonymous with coffee and cigarettes, has started to build benches outside its local restaurants to accommodate smokers. “Our smoking customers are just as valuable as everyone else and we don’t want to lose them,” a local spokesperson said. “But we will abide by the law,” she said.
Waffle House, like other restaurants, will have signs posted, but it doesn't plan to make a big deal if someone lights up. “We’ll very politely ask them to put it out or take it outside,” the spokesperson said.
Patty Diptroni at the Goal Post, just north of Jacksonville, said. “We’re not affected at all because you’ve got to be 21 to enter here.”
Larry Wallace with Chili’s in Jacksonville said, “I’m not allowed to comment right now, but we’re a family establishment and we’ll abide by the law as it’s written.”
Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, director for Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Health Advance-ment, said restaurant owners should not worry. She said that in other states with similar bans, business at restaurants and bars has increased since smoking bans were imposed.
“There are a lot of non-smokers who wouldn’t ordinarily be going to those restaurants and bars because they’re too smoky,” Dillaha said. “In Arkansas there are three times as many nonsmokers as there are smokers, so I’m anticipating that there will be a similar result here.”
Associated Press writer Annie Bergman contributed to this article.
EDITORIALS >> A little perspective
What a spate of good economic news we have had the past week. The state treasury is flush, having accumulated a surplus of $400 million in the fiscal year that ended at the first of the month, and the U.S. Treasury reports that a rush of income-tax receipts this year will drive the federal budget deficit for 2006 much lower than the administration’s last forecast in February.
President Bush boasted yesterday that the four rounds of tax cuts that he has engineered are responsible for the gushing revenues in government treasuries. It proves, he said, that his theory that lower taxes raise government revenues while releasing furious economic growth was right.
We can rest easy now, can’t we? We can quit worrying about exploding deficits and soaring debt financed by foreign banks and the oil cartel or an economy that is not producing many new jobs or growing paychecks.
Restrain your exhilaration. Let’s pay closer attention to those exuberant claims.
First, real per-capita federal revenues — adjusted, that is, for inflation and population growth — are only now returning to the level of five years ago when Congress enacted the first of the Bush tax cuts and a brief recession began.
Even counting the administration’s projections for this year, the growth rate of revenues in the five and a half years of the administration is far below the rate of any previous business cycle since World War II. The new revenue forecast for this fiscal year is still $300 billion below the forecast in 2001 under the tax rates that governed the latter Bill Clinton years.
Much of the furious growth in revenues this year, in Washington and in Little Rock, is from corporate income taxes. Surging corporate taxes account for almost a fourth of the Arkansas surplus. It reflects a mammoth surge in profits that corporations choose to report this year. It also reflects a surge in capital-gains and dividend income from wealthy investors and the large bonuses and salary increases of corporate executives rather than a rise in the incomes of average Americans.
The figures suggest a rapidly widening income disparity between corporations and high-income individuals and the rest of society.
Last, let us be reminded that in the five and a half years since the first tax cuts for the wealthy were enacted, in March 2001, the Bush administration has borrowed $3 trillion. Even with the burst of revenues in recent months, counting the administration’s borrowing from Social Security trust funds to pay for wars, it will add $470 billion this year to the debt that our children and grandchildren will be taxed to pay.
When this all began in 2001, remember, the United States was running 12-digit surpluses and forecasting ever-larger ones as far as the eye could see. When politicians brag, memory helps.
President Bush boasted yesterday that the four rounds of tax cuts that he has engineered are responsible for the gushing revenues in government treasuries. It proves, he said, that his theory that lower taxes raise government revenues while releasing furious economic growth was right.
We can rest easy now, can’t we? We can quit worrying about exploding deficits and soaring debt financed by foreign banks and the oil cartel or an economy that is not producing many new jobs or growing paychecks.
Restrain your exhilaration. Let’s pay closer attention to those exuberant claims.
First, real per-capita federal revenues — adjusted, that is, for inflation and population growth — are only now returning to the level of five years ago when Congress enacted the first of the Bush tax cuts and a brief recession began.
Even counting the administration’s projections for this year, the growth rate of revenues in the five and a half years of the administration is far below the rate of any previous business cycle since World War II. The new revenue forecast for this fiscal year is still $300 billion below the forecast in 2001 under the tax rates that governed the latter Bill Clinton years.
Much of the furious growth in revenues this year, in Washington and in Little Rock, is from corporate income taxes. Surging corporate taxes account for almost a fourth of the Arkansas surplus. It reflects a mammoth surge in profits that corporations choose to report this year. It also reflects a surge in capital-gains and dividend income from wealthy investors and the large bonuses and salary increases of corporate executives rather than a rise in the incomes of average Americans.
The figures suggest a rapidly widening income disparity between corporations and high-income individuals and the rest of society.
Last, let us be reminded that in the five and a half years since the first tax cuts for the wealthy were enacted, in March 2001, the Bush administration has borrowed $3 trillion. Even with the burst of revenues in recent months, counting the administration’s borrowing from Social Security trust funds to pay for wars, it will add $470 billion this year to the debt that our children and grandchildren will be taxed to pay.
When this all began in 2001, remember, the United States was running 12-digit surpluses and forecasting ever-larger ones as far as the eye could see. When politicians brag, memory helps.
EDITORIALS >> New man
The 314th Mission Support Group changed commanders last Wednesday morning in a moving ceremony in Hangar 276 at Little Rock Air Force Base. Col. Scott C. Lockard succeeded Col. John A. Starkey as commander. Hundreds of military people, the officers’ relatives and community leaders watched as Brig. Gen. Kip Self, the base commander, presided over the passing of the group’s guidon from Col. Starkey to Col. Lockard.
For some 60 years, the Air Force has attracted the cream of the crop, where diversity is its strength. That is reflected in the colonels’ backgrounds: Col. Starkey, a native New Yorker, and Col. Lockard, a native of Kentucky, come from different sections of the nation, but they strengthen their branch of the military with the unique qualities of their regions.
A sense of camaraderie, a unity of purpose, was evident at the ceremony. But beyond that, as Gen. Self put it, there is a certain je ne sais quoi in the Air Force, a can-do spirit that has made the base a center of excellence in the military.
As Gen. Self said, the 314th Mission Support Group, which trains and sends flight crews into battle, will remain in good hands under a new commander. The general reminded the audience that the military never lacks for good leadership: When one outstanding commander like Col. Starkey leaves, another one like Col. Lockard takes his place.
Col. Lockard and the men and women of the 314th MSG, like the rest of the air base, are on duty around the clock. For those of us who only catch glimpses of their important work, their preparedness means we’re safe and secure, a comforting notion in these difficult times.
For some 60 years, the Air Force has attracted the cream of the crop, where diversity is its strength. That is reflected in the colonels’ backgrounds: Col. Starkey, a native New Yorker, and Col. Lockard, a native of Kentucky, come from different sections of the nation, but they strengthen their branch of the military with the unique qualities of their regions.
A sense of camaraderie, a unity of purpose, was evident at the ceremony. But beyond that, as Gen. Self put it, there is a certain je ne sais quoi in the Air Force, a can-do spirit that has made the base a center of excellence in the military.
As Gen. Self said, the 314th Mission Support Group, which trains and sends flight crews into battle, will remain in good hands under a new commander. The general reminded the audience that the military never lacks for good leadership: When one outstanding commander like Col. Starkey leaves, another one like Col. Lockard takes his place.
Col. Lockard and the men and women of the 314th MSG, like the rest of the air base, are on duty around the clock. For those of us who only catch glimpses of their important work, their preparedness means we’re safe and secure, a comforting notion in these difficult times.
EDITORIAL >> Having it both ways
To say one thing, do quite another and get credit for both is the optimum skill in politics. It is much easier when you are traversing the country and the local media do not know the difference.
Monday, Gov. Huckabee was wrapping up another three-day swing through Iowa, the first state to engage in presidential selection in 2008. At a news conference, someone asked Huckabee about Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack’s veto of a bill putting limitations on the condemnation of private property for private economic development. Vilsack is a Democrat and, like Huckabee, a long-shot candidate for president. But he isn’t much of a demagogue.
Huckabee said if he were governor of Iowa he probably would not have vetoed the bill, which he admitted that he had not read. When government takes private property for the benefit of private entities and individuals, Huckabee said, “that is really a threshold that once we cross we have a hard time getting back, and I think there’s a lot of angst I hear about it.”
“I know that is a very sensitive issue in Arkansas and most places,” he continued. “We haven’t had to do anything because we’ve never had a situation that I’m aware of where we’ve taken private property for a private development.”
Maybe not, but contrary to the impression he left in Iowa, Huckabee signed into law legislation to permit exactly that in Arkansas. It was the tax-increment-finance statute.
A 2002 constitutional amendment, supported by the governor, empowers local governments to create redevelopment districts with the goal of creating new jobs and to tap school, city and county property taxes to build infrastruture. The enabling statute signed by the governor explicitly granted local governments condemnation power.
Could the governor have misapprehended the purpose owing to vague language?
The statute says a redevelopment project may take private property, including vacant lots, “for development, redevelopment or rehabilitation by private enterprise. . .” Could a statute be any clearer?
The law has not been used yet to condemn property for private development, but projects are in the works from North Little Rock’s Dark Hollow to Jonesboro and Rogers.
Asa Hutchinson, the nominee of Huckabee’s party to succeed him, has been exploiting the eminent-domain issue with the same finesse. They inveigh against a U. S. Supreme Court decision that said the U.S. Constitution did not prohibit property takings for quasi-public purposes but then signal to developers that it’s really OK in their case.
They don’t want to irritate developers who want to rake off school taxes to build freeway exits to their shopping malls.
It turns out that in politics you really can have it both ways.
Monday, Gov. Huckabee was wrapping up another three-day swing through Iowa, the first state to engage in presidential selection in 2008. At a news conference, someone asked Huckabee about Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack’s veto of a bill putting limitations on the condemnation of private property for private economic development. Vilsack is a Democrat and, like Huckabee, a long-shot candidate for president. But he isn’t much of a demagogue.
Huckabee said if he were governor of Iowa he probably would not have vetoed the bill, which he admitted that he had not read. When government takes private property for the benefit of private entities and individuals, Huckabee said, “that is really a threshold that once we cross we have a hard time getting back, and I think there’s a lot of angst I hear about it.”
“I know that is a very sensitive issue in Arkansas and most places,” he continued. “We haven’t had to do anything because we’ve never had a situation that I’m aware of where we’ve taken private property for a private development.”
Maybe not, but contrary to the impression he left in Iowa, Huckabee signed into law legislation to permit exactly that in Arkansas. It was the tax-increment-finance statute.
A 2002 constitutional amendment, supported by the governor, empowers local governments to create redevelopment districts with the goal of creating new jobs and to tap school, city and county property taxes to build infrastruture. The enabling statute signed by the governor explicitly granted local governments condemnation power.
Could the governor have misapprehended the purpose owing to vague language?
The statute says a redevelopment project may take private property, including vacant lots, “for development, redevelopment or rehabilitation by private enterprise. . .” Could a statute be any clearer?
The law has not been used yet to condemn property for private development, but projects are in the works from North Little Rock’s Dark Hollow to Jonesboro and Rogers.
Asa Hutchinson, the nominee of Huckabee’s party to succeed him, has been exploiting the eminent-domain issue with the same finesse. They inveigh against a U. S. Supreme Court decision that said the U.S. Constitution did not prohibit property takings for quasi-public purposes but then signal to developers that it’s really OK in their case.
They don’t want to irritate developers who want to rake off school taxes to build freeway exits to their shopping malls.
It turns out that in politics you really can have it both ways.
OBITUARIES >> 07-12-06
Mattie Haralson, 101
Mattie Josiephene May Haral-son, 101, of Jacksonville passed away July 9 at Woodland Hills Nursing Home in Jacksonville. She was born Nov. 30, 1904, at Hattieville to Hen-ry Columbus May and Savannah Georgia Hicks May.
She was a homemaker and member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Little Rock. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Price Monroe Haralson; a son, Houston Haralson; a daughter, Marilyn Brown; a son-in-law, Britt Hall; three brothers; one sister; two grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Price Monroe Jr. and Sybil Haralson of Redfield, Bobby Joe and Norma Haralson of Jacksonville; a daughter, Vernie Hall of Pine Bluff; a daughter-in-law, Nadine Haralson of Gravel Ridge; son-in-law, Truman Brown of Splendora, Texas; 16 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today at East Union Missionary Baptist Church with Reverend Bob Slagley officiating.
Burial will follow in Salem Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Memorials may be made to East Union Missionary Baptist Church, 20422 N. Spring-lake Road, Hensley, Ark. 72065, or Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 5300 Stagecoach Road, Little Rock, Ark., 72204.
Arrangements are by Buie Funeral Home of Sheridan.
Bertha Smith
Bertha Marion Smith, 90, of Jacksonville, died July 7 at home. She was born March 12, 1916, to the late Aaron and Margaret Sherlock Adler in Nottingham, England. She is survived by her daughter, Deirdre Reilly of Jack-sonville; four grandchildren, Michael and Sharon Moore, Patrick and Carol Reilly, Daniel Reilly, Shona and Jason McAtee, and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, John Smith. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jerold Posey.
Charles Middleton
Charles “Charlie” Edwin Middle-ton, 67, of Cottonwood, Ariz., passed away July 3.
He was born to the late Sallie and Edwin Gladstone “E.G.” Middleton in Arkansas. He spent most of his life in Arkansas, graduating from Quit-man High School. He did a tour of duty in the Navy and afterwards, he pursued his passion for trucks and over-the-road driving, working for Traveler Boats and Transcon. He retired in 1997 after 28 years with ABF Freight Systems. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Jacksonville, the Scottish Rite of Little Rock and the Teamsters of Little Rock. He was also a member of Sedona United Methodist Church in Arizona. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois Marie Middleton.
Survivors include his two daughters, Karen Middleton Britton of Colorado and Sheila Middleton Sals-man of New Mexico; one sister, Mary Hassell Maxson of Arizona, and four grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Rest Hills Chapel in North Little Rock. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. There will also be a memorial service held at a later date in Arizona.
The family requests memorials be made to the First United Methodist Church, 220 W. Main Street in Jacksonville or Sedona United Methodist Church, 1109 Indian Cliffs Road, Sedona, Ariz., 86336.
Selma Thornton
“Granny” Selma Lilly Thornton, 93, of Cabot, went to be with Jesus July 9. She was born April 7, 1913, in Cabot to the late Marion Wesley and Callie Elizabeth Cole. She was the founding executor of the Faith Chris-tian Center Church and a Prayer Warrior all of her life.
Also preceding her in death are one son, William Thornton, Jr.; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Survivors include three daughters, Connie Mahoney and Donna Williams of Cabot and Betty J. Gilliam of Jacksonville; one son, Doyne T. Thornton of Alpena; one sister, Maycel Wood of Bakersfield, Calif.; 22 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and 21 great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. today with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Faith Christian Center, 6706 T.P. White Drive in Jacksonville with Rev. Gene Gilliam officiating.
Interment will follow at 16th Section Cemetery. Arrangements are by Thomas Funeral Service.
Jesse Maddox
Jesse Alexander Maddox, 86, of Cabot, went to be with his Heavenly Father on July 9. He was born Jan. 8, 1920 in Guin, Ala.
He was preceded in death by his parents E.A. and Alice Foster Maddox, four brothers and two sisters.
He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Betty of Cabot; one son, Sam Maddox, and his wife, Sandra of Stuttgart; two daughters, Peggy Reichenbach and her husband, Carl and Becky Rummel and her husband, Larry, all of Cabot; six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today at Victory Baptist Church of Cabot with burial at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Arkansas Children’s Hospital for cancer research.
Jimmy Woosley
Jimmy Darrell Woosley, Sr., of Cabot passed away July 7. He was born July 7, 1936, in England to the late Charley Richard and Thelma Jones Woosley.
Also preceding him in death were two sisters, Patricia and Lois Woosley and three brothers, Ray, Doyne and Eugene Woosley.
Survivors include his loving wife of 45 years, Penny Jackson Woosley of the home; four sons, Floyd Whitten of El Paso, and Bruce, Danny and Jimmy Woosley, all of Cabot; one sister Carolyn Schmerber of Salem, Oregon, and one brother Joe Woosley of Cabot; seven grandchildren, Paul and Brandy Whitten of Mississippi, Maggie Gray and Laura Woosley of Cabot, Crystal Crisco of Beebe and Judy and Jessica Woosley of Cabot, and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at Cabot United Methodist Church with Rev. Rick Meadows officiating. Interment followed at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Cabot. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Kidney Foundation or to Union Valley Cemetery, 14633 Hwy. 31 So., England, Ark., 72046. Arrangements were by Thomas Funeral Service of Cabot.
Raelynne Duckett
Raelynne Bliss Rachelle Duckett of Beebe, infant daughter of Jacilyn Duckett and Billy Heaston, died July 7.
She is also survived by a brother, Xander Duckett of Beebe; her grandparents, George and Sandra Beals of Beebe; and great-grandmother, Helen Bliss of Okla-homa. A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at West-brook Funeral Home of Beebe.
Louvinia Love
Louvinia Love, 69, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, baptized July 1, 1975, died July 6 in Searcy.
She was born to the late Charles M. Love, Sr., and Georgia Christian in Judsonia on July 20, 1936.
She has lived in Vacaville, Calif., for the last 11 years and had returned to Heber Springs for a family reunion.
She is preceded in death by one daughter, Tricia Ann Ruhl.
She is survived by her children, Edward Ruhl and wife, Peppa of Yuma, Arizona, Beverly Lowery and Tonya Marie Love, both of Vacaville, Calif., Walter Henry Sullivan, Jr., and wife, Robbie of Bald Knob, and Debra Fulton of Jacksonville; brothers Charles Love, Dale E. Love, Robert Love, Jr., and Paul Love; and sisters, Bobbie Marie McKee and Billie Rea Leduc.
Memorial services were held Sunday at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Searcy at 6:30 p.m. with Russell Smith officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.
Mattie Josiephene May Haral-son, 101, of Jacksonville passed away July 9 at Woodland Hills Nursing Home in Jacksonville. She was born Nov. 30, 1904, at Hattieville to Hen-ry Columbus May and Savannah Georgia Hicks May.
She was a homemaker and member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Little Rock. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Price Monroe Haralson; a son, Houston Haralson; a daughter, Marilyn Brown; a son-in-law, Britt Hall; three brothers; one sister; two grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Price Monroe Jr. and Sybil Haralson of Redfield, Bobby Joe and Norma Haralson of Jacksonville; a daughter, Vernie Hall of Pine Bluff; a daughter-in-law, Nadine Haralson of Gravel Ridge; son-in-law, Truman Brown of Splendora, Texas; 16 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today at East Union Missionary Baptist Church with Reverend Bob Slagley officiating.
Burial will follow in Salem Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Memorials may be made to East Union Missionary Baptist Church, 20422 N. Spring-lake Road, Hensley, Ark. 72065, or Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 5300 Stagecoach Road, Little Rock, Ark., 72204.
Arrangements are by Buie Funeral Home of Sheridan.
Bertha Smith
Bertha Marion Smith, 90, of Jacksonville, died July 7 at home. She was born March 12, 1916, to the late Aaron and Margaret Sherlock Adler in Nottingham, England. She is survived by her daughter, Deirdre Reilly of Jack-sonville; four grandchildren, Michael and Sharon Moore, Patrick and Carol Reilly, Daniel Reilly, Shona and Jason McAtee, and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, John Smith. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jerold Posey.
Charles Middleton
Charles “Charlie” Edwin Middle-ton, 67, of Cottonwood, Ariz., passed away July 3.
He was born to the late Sallie and Edwin Gladstone “E.G.” Middleton in Arkansas. He spent most of his life in Arkansas, graduating from Quit-man High School. He did a tour of duty in the Navy and afterwards, he pursued his passion for trucks and over-the-road driving, working for Traveler Boats and Transcon. He retired in 1997 after 28 years with ABF Freight Systems. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Jacksonville, the Scottish Rite of Little Rock and the Teamsters of Little Rock. He was also a member of Sedona United Methodist Church in Arizona. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois Marie Middleton.
Survivors include his two daughters, Karen Middleton Britton of Colorado and Sheila Middleton Sals-man of New Mexico; one sister, Mary Hassell Maxson of Arizona, and four grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Rest Hills Chapel in North Little Rock. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. There will also be a memorial service held at a later date in Arizona.
The family requests memorials be made to the First United Methodist Church, 220 W. Main Street in Jacksonville or Sedona United Methodist Church, 1109 Indian Cliffs Road, Sedona, Ariz., 86336.
Selma Thornton
“Granny” Selma Lilly Thornton, 93, of Cabot, went to be with Jesus July 9. She was born April 7, 1913, in Cabot to the late Marion Wesley and Callie Elizabeth Cole. She was the founding executor of the Faith Chris-tian Center Church and a Prayer Warrior all of her life.
Also preceding her in death are one son, William Thornton, Jr.; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Survivors include three daughters, Connie Mahoney and Donna Williams of Cabot and Betty J. Gilliam of Jacksonville; one son, Doyne T. Thornton of Alpena; one sister, Maycel Wood of Bakersfield, Calif.; 22 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and 21 great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. today with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Faith Christian Center, 6706 T.P. White Drive in Jacksonville with Rev. Gene Gilliam officiating.
Interment will follow at 16th Section Cemetery. Arrangements are by Thomas Funeral Service.
Jesse Maddox
Jesse Alexander Maddox, 86, of Cabot, went to be with his Heavenly Father on July 9. He was born Jan. 8, 1920 in Guin, Ala.
He was preceded in death by his parents E.A. and Alice Foster Maddox, four brothers and two sisters.
He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Betty of Cabot; one son, Sam Maddox, and his wife, Sandra of Stuttgart; two daughters, Peggy Reichenbach and her husband, Carl and Becky Rummel and her husband, Larry, all of Cabot; six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today at Victory Baptist Church of Cabot with burial at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Arkansas Children’s Hospital for cancer research.
Jimmy Woosley
Jimmy Darrell Woosley, Sr., of Cabot passed away July 7. He was born July 7, 1936, in England to the late Charley Richard and Thelma Jones Woosley.
Also preceding him in death were two sisters, Patricia and Lois Woosley and three brothers, Ray, Doyne and Eugene Woosley.
Survivors include his loving wife of 45 years, Penny Jackson Woosley of the home; four sons, Floyd Whitten of El Paso, and Bruce, Danny and Jimmy Woosley, all of Cabot; one sister Carolyn Schmerber of Salem, Oregon, and one brother Joe Woosley of Cabot; seven grandchildren, Paul and Brandy Whitten of Mississippi, Maggie Gray and Laura Woosley of Cabot, Crystal Crisco of Beebe and Judy and Jessica Woosley of Cabot, and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at Cabot United Methodist Church with Rev. Rick Meadows officiating. Interment followed at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Cabot. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Kidney Foundation or to Union Valley Cemetery, 14633 Hwy. 31 So., England, Ark., 72046. Arrangements were by Thomas Funeral Service of Cabot.
Raelynne Duckett
Raelynne Bliss Rachelle Duckett of Beebe, infant daughter of Jacilyn Duckett and Billy Heaston, died July 7.
She is also survived by a brother, Xander Duckett of Beebe; her grandparents, George and Sandra Beals of Beebe; and great-grandmother, Helen Bliss of Okla-homa. A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at West-brook Funeral Home of Beebe.
Louvinia Love
Louvinia Love, 69, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, baptized July 1, 1975, died July 6 in Searcy.
She was born to the late Charles M. Love, Sr., and Georgia Christian in Judsonia on July 20, 1936.
She has lived in Vacaville, Calif., for the last 11 years and had returned to Heber Springs for a family reunion.
She is preceded in death by one daughter, Tricia Ann Ruhl.
She is survived by her children, Edward Ruhl and wife, Peppa of Yuma, Arizona, Beverly Lowery and Tonya Marie Love, both of Vacaville, Calif., Walter Henry Sullivan, Jr., and wife, Robbie of Bald Knob, and Debra Fulton of Jacksonville; brothers Charles Love, Dale E. Love, Robert Love, Jr., and Paul Love; and sisters, Bobbie Marie McKee and Billie Rea Leduc.
Memorial services were held Sunday at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Searcy at 6:30 p.m. with Russell Smith officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.
SPORTS >> Cabot falls on Cogswell walk off
BY RAY BENTON
Leader sports writer
The Cabot American Legion team didn’t take much time to equal its previous hit total against Russellville. The Home Depot squad managed just one hit in a 10-1 loss a month ago, but leadoff hitter Sam Bates got that with the first swing of the game last Friday.
The extra hitting made the game close, but couldn’t secure a win as the Cogswell Motors team scored a single run in the bottom of the last inning to pull out a 4-3 victory.
Cabot jumped out to a 3-0 lead, and got several runners on base afterwards, but failed to bring them around.
Russellville clinched the game when Derek Owens doubled to lead off the inning, and Garrett Hill singled for the winning RBI.
It was Russellville’s only earned run of the game. Cabot miscues let Cogswell back into the affair. Two errors led to two Russellville runs in the fifth inning to cut Cabot’s lead to 3-2.
In the sixth, another run scored after a would-be strikeout ended up with Russellville’s Josh Boger standing on second base. The third strike was mishandled, and a wild throw to first sailed into right field.
A base hit followed and the game was tied at 3-3.
Sam Bates, Logan Lucas, Chris Gross and Colin Fuller accounted for Cabot’s four base hits. Russellville also totaled four hits off Cabot pitcher Justin Haas.
The Panthers are now 12-17 overall.
Leader sports writer
The Cabot American Legion team didn’t take much time to equal its previous hit total against Russellville. The Home Depot squad managed just one hit in a 10-1 loss a month ago, but leadoff hitter Sam Bates got that with the first swing of the game last Friday.
The extra hitting made the game close, but couldn’t secure a win as the Cogswell Motors team scored a single run in the bottom of the last inning to pull out a 4-3 victory.
Cabot jumped out to a 3-0 lead, and got several runners on base afterwards, but failed to bring them around.
Russellville clinched the game when Derek Owens doubled to lead off the inning, and Garrett Hill singled for the winning RBI.
It was Russellville’s only earned run of the game. Cabot miscues let Cogswell back into the affair. Two errors led to two Russellville runs in the fifth inning to cut Cabot’s lead to 3-2.
In the sixth, another run scored after a would-be strikeout ended up with Russellville’s Josh Boger standing on second base. The third strike was mishandled, and a wild throw to first sailed into right field.
A base hit followed and the game was tied at 3-3.
Sam Bates, Logan Lucas, Chris Gross and Colin Fuller accounted for Cabot’s four base hits. Russellville also totaled four hits off Cabot pitcher Justin Haas.
The Panthers are now 12-17 overall.
SPORTS >> Sylvan Hills advances to Class A legion state
BY JASON KING
Leader sports writer
IN SHORT: The Bruins A team took second in the Zone 2 tourney and will play in state Thursday.
Sylvan Hills came up one run short of claiming its second-straight Zone two American Legion Class A title, but did manage to qualify for this week’s state tourney with a runner-up finish to zone winner Conway.
The Wampus Cats were the only team to go undefeated in the tournament at Vince De Salvo Stadium in North Little Rock, but not before a close final game against the Bruins.
After a convincing 10-2 win over Greenbrier in the opening round on Thursday, a close 12-10 loss to Gwatney Chevrolet Friday night put the Bruins in the loser’s bracket early on. Sylvan Hills recovered from Friday’s slip, beating Vilonia 4-2 before overtaking the Panthers for the second straight time. The two wins on Saturday put them in a rematch with Jacksonville on Sunday to determine Conway’s opponent in the finals.
Sylvan Hills was determined not to lose two straight games to its local rival, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Cody Wood set up the early run by reaching on a Gwatney error, and was driven in moments later by Chris Eastham.
Cody Cormier drove in the next run in the top of the second inning with a RBI that scored T. C. Squires for a 2-0 Bruins lead.
The next score would not come until the top of the fifth inning. Chris Dalton led the inning off with a single hopper at third base. Squires then hit into a fielder’s choice at third base, but Gwatney first baseman Adrian Baker failed to step on the bag after getting the throw from third baseman Cameron Hood.
Thinking he had the out at first, Baker threw the ball back to Hood in an attempt to tag Dalton, but the throw was too high, and Dalton came in for the score to give the Bruins a 3-0 lead.
Baker made up for his defensive slip in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run home run for Jacksonville that closed the gap to 3-2.
Seth Tombolli came in at pitcher for Gwatney in the top of the seventh, and put away the first two batters by forcing pop-ups. Tombolli went for three-up and three-down with Cormier at the plate, but hit him with a pitch to put a runner on for Sylvan Hills.
Blake Rix singled to right field to put two runners on base, and a walk for Jessie Everett loaded the bases for the Bruins with two outs.
The deciding moment in the game occurred when following batter Wood knocked it into centerfield to score all three runners, giving Sylvan Hills a 6-2 lead and killing any hopes of a Gwatney comeback.
Sylvan Hills starting pitcher Eastham went the distance on the mound for the Bruins, giving up only one hit to Jacksonville in the final inning to secure the win and send them into the final game against Conway.
The Bruins took to the field to face the Wampus Cats less than a half an hour after beating Jacksonville. Conway arrived well-rested and ready to play, putting Sylvan Hills at a disadvantage before the game even started.
If the Bruins were fatigued, they showed no sign of it early on. The game went scoreless until the top of the third inning, when Sylvan Hills struck first with a sacrifice fly from Eastham that allowed Everett to tag up at third for the score.
Sylvan Hills held on to the narrow lead until the bottom of the fourth, when a passed ball allowed James Murphy in for the first Conway run of the game, tying the score at 1-1.
Ricky Wheeler came in to relieve starting Bruins pitcher Brandon Chastain at that point, but the Wampus Cats tacked on two more runs in the inning to take a 3-1 lead after four.
Ross Bogard scored on a Conway fielding error in the top of the sixth to close the gap to within a single run at 3-2, but it would be the final score in the game for either team.
Wood put the tying run in position for Sylvan Hills in the top of the seventh by reaching third base, but a pop-up from Bogard gave Conway the third out of the inning, and sealed the win for the Wampus Cats.
Sylvan Hills finished the game with two runs, three hits and one error. Conway had three runs, one hit and two errors.
Sylvan Hills will start state tournament play tomorrow with a 10 a.m. matchup against host team North Little Rock. The Colts will be looking to redeem themselves after going winless in the zone tourney with losses to Conway and Greenbrier.
Leader sports writer
IN SHORT: The Bruins A team took second in the Zone 2 tourney and will play in state Thursday.
Sylvan Hills came up one run short of claiming its second-straight Zone two American Legion Class A title, but did manage to qualify for this week’s state tourney with a runner-up finish to zone winner Conway.
The Wampus Cats were the only team to go undefeated in the tournament at Vince De Salvo Stadium in North Little Rock, but not before a close final game against the Bruins.
After a convincing 10-2 win over Greenbrier in the opening round on Thursday, a close 12-10 loss to Gwatney Chevrolet Friday night put the Bruins in the loser’s bracket early on. Sylvan Hills recovered from Friday’s slip, beating Vilonia 4-2 before overtaking the Panthers for the second straight time. The two wins on Saturday put them in a rematch with Jacksonville on Sunday to determine Conway’s opponent in the finals.
Sylvan Hills was determined not to lose two straight games to its local rival, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Cody Wood set up the early run by reaching on a Gwatney error, and was driven in moments later by Chris Eastham.
Cody Cormier drove in the next run in the top of the second inning with a RBI that scored T. C. Squires for a 2-0 Bruins lead.
The next score would not come until the top of the fifth inning. Chris Dalton led the inning off with a single hopper at third base. Squires then hit into a fielder’s choice at third base, but Gwatney first baseman Adrian Baker failed to step on the bag after getting the throw from third baseman Cameron Hood.
Thinking he had the out at first, Baker threw the ball back to Hood in an attempt to tag Dalton, but the throw was too high, and Dalton came in for the score to give the Bruins a 3-0 lead.
Baker made up for his defensive slip in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run home run for Jacksonville that closed the gap to 3-2.
Seth Tombolli came in at pitcher for Gwatney in the top of the seventh, and put away the first two batters by forcing pop-ups. Tombolli went for three-up and three-down with Cormier at the plate, but hit him with a pitch to put a runner on for Sylvan Hills.
Blake Rix singled to right field to put two runners on base, and a walk for Jessie Everett loaded the bases for the Bruins with two outs.
The deciding moment in the game occurred when following batter Wood knocked it into centerfield to score all three runners, giving Sylvan Hills a 6-2 lead and killing any hopes of a Gwatney comeback.
Sylvan Hills starting pitcher Eastham went the distance on the mound for the Bruins, giving up only one hit to Jacksonville in the final inning to secure the win and send them into the final game against Conway.
The Bruins took to the field to face the Wampus Cats less than a half an hour after beating Jacksonville. Conway arrived well-rested and ready to play, putting Sylvan Hills at a disadvantage before the game even started.
If the Bruins were fatigued, they showed no sign of it early on. The game went scoreless until the top of the third inning, when Sylvan Hills struck first with a sacrifice fly from Eastham that allowed Everett to tag up at third for the score.
Sylvan Hills held on to the narrow lead until the bottom of the fourth, when a passed ball allowed James Murphy in for the first Conway run of the game, tying the score at 1-1.
Ricky Wheeler came in to relieve starting Bruins pitcher Brandon Chastain at that point, but the Wampus Cats tacked on two more runs in the inning to take a 3-1 lead after four.
Ross Bogard scored on a Conway fielding error in the top of the sixth to close the gap to within a single run at 3-2, but it would be the final score in the game for either team.
Wood put the tying run in position for Sylvan Hills in the top of the seventh by reaching third base, but a pop-up from Bogard gave Conway the third out of the inning, and sealed the win for the Wampus Cats.
Sylvan Hills finished the game with two runs, three hits and one error. Conway had three runs, one hit and two errors.
Sylvan Hills will start state tournament play tomorrow with a 10 a.m. matchup against host team North Little Rock. The Colts will be looking to redeem themselves after going winless in the zone tourney with losses to Conway and Greenbrier.
OPINION >> Razorback lineman preparing for finale
BY NATE ALLEN
Special to the Leader
IN SHORT: After injuries delayed his time in the spotlight, Arkansas tackle Zach Tubbs is ready to lead the Hogs’ O-line.
FAYETTEVILLE — Football isn’t a marathon. Football isn’t a sprint.
It’s both. And when you are 6-6, over 330 pounds and coming off two years of a broken ankle and blood clots, you might not feel too good about your chances for either. Especially with the sprint-endurance part getting all the faster and more fatiguing with some no-huddle added to the Arkansas offense by new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn.
A beleaguered giant can despair or smile. Zac Tubbs smiles. He smiles, that is, when the Arkansas fifth-year senior offensive tackle isn’t huffing and puffing up the Razorback Stadium steps after lifting weights and more running. The Cullman, Ala., native does this all the while dieting like a model told to fit a swimsuit now two sizes too small or else.
And that’s already after dieting from once being above 370.
“He’s 330 trying to get down to 320,” coach Houston Nutt said. “And he keeps at it after the injuries he’s had. I like his attitude!”
It’s the only attitude to have if you want to play, Tubbs believes. And you can believe after two years of injury-enforced idleness, Zac Tubbs wants to play. Even if it means going through the marathon 12-game season, 14 games he hopes if the Hogs can add the SEC Championship game and a bowl game, without even much break between plays when Nutt and Malzahn order no huddle.
“It’s hard,” Tubbs said, bathed in sweat after a Friday workout, “but all I have to do is get back in the groove and get in shape. I’ll get in shape. We all will be ready to go for the no-huddle.”
Just having Tubbs available to go at all would seem worth huddling to accommodate him.
Arkansas’ biggest offensive lineman was supposed to be Arkansas’ best once the big man he understudied, two-time All-American and Camden native Shawn Andrews, moved on early to the pros.
As a true freshman in 2002, Tubbs played the entire second half against South Carolina when Andrews was injured and started the following game against Louisiana-Monroe.
When Andrews turned professional in 2003 before the Independence Bowl, Tubbs started that 27-14 victory over Missouri. He started the first five games of 2004.
Then disaster struck during an Oct. 5 open date practice. He fractured his left ankle in two places, underwent surgery, and during the portion of recovery when he couldn’t move around much, suffered a blood clot in his leg that went to his lung.
Needless to say, Tubbs did not practice the spring of 2005.
But by August he thought he was well and could practice, then hurt the ankle again. Knowing he couldn’t play after a few plays of a season-ending debut three games into the year against Southern California, Tubbs preserved a hardship season for 2006.
He practiced last spring but certainly wasn’t ready for no-huddle; not that many linemen were. But he practiced every practice while his weight kept dropping.
“That’s what I’m proudest about,” strength coach Don Decker said, “he’s always had trouble with his body weight. But he’s held a high 340 now for eight or nine months without gaining weight when he goes home for Christmas break or spring break. His conditioning level is getting better. He’s moving better, bending better. Zac doesn’t have to wear the brace any more on his ankle.”
He’s good to go, trainer Dean Weber said.
“He had a lot of issues,” Weber said, “but he’s overcome all that and is doing well. As far as we are concerned, there don’t appear any limitations on him at all.”
That will include no-huddle, Tubbs vows.
“We weren’t used to it in the spring,” Tubbs said last Friday, “but we know it now.”
He’s fixing to know it a lot better, Decker says smiling.
Tubbs knows all about that, the simulated no-huddle crash course in summer conditioning before the Razorbacks report Aug. 4 for official practice commencing Aug. 5.
“We are going to start drills on it next week,” Tubbs said last Friday. “It’s all part of it to get our legs in shape. I feel real good and ready to go.”
Aside from the no-huddle, Tubbs has had to familiarize himself with the new pass-blocking scheme of Malzahn’s offense.
Something is comfortably familiar, though, for Tubbs and the rest of veteran offensive line coach Mike Markuson’s linemen.
They still get to block for sensational sophomore tailbacks Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.
“Any time you have those two guys back there and little Mike Smith (the redshirt freshman tailback injured in preseason last year), too,” Tubbs said ... “just give them a crease, and they make big things happen. I’m really excited about that. There’s a lot to be excited for.”
Special to the Leader
IN SHORT: After injuries delayed his time in the spotlight, Arkansas tackle Zach Tubbs is ready to lead the Hogs’ O-line.
FAYETTEVILLE — Football isn’t a marathon. Football isn’t a sprint.
It’s both. And when you are 6-6, over 330 pounds and coming off two years of a broken ankle and blood clots, you might not feel too good about your chances for either. Especially with the sprint-endurance part getting all the faster and more fatiguing with some no-huddle added to the Arkansas offense by new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn.
A beleaguered giant can despair or smile. Zac Tubbs smiles. He smiles, that is, when the Arkansas fifth-year senior offensive tackle isn’t huffing and puffing up the Razorback Stadium steps after lifting weights and more running. The Cullman, Ala., native does this all the while dieting like a model told to fit a swimsuit now two sizes too small or else.
And that’s already after dieting from once being above 370.
“He’s 330 trying to get down to 320,” coach Houston Nutt said. “And he keeps at it after the injuries he’s had. I like his attitude!”
It’s the only attitude to have if you want to play, Tubbs believes. And you can believe after two years of injury-enforced idleness, Zac Tubbs wants to play. Even if it means going through the marathon 12-game season, 14 games he hopes if the Hogs can add the SEC Championship game and a bowl game, without even much break between plays when Nutt and Malzahn order no huddle.
“It’s hard,” Tubbs said, bathed in sweat after a Friday workout, “but all I have to do is get back in the groove and get in shape. I’ll get in shape. We all will be ready to go for the no-huddle.”
Just having Tubbs available to go at all would seem worth huddling to accommodate him.
Arkansas’ biggest offensive lineman was supposed to be Arkansas’ best once the big man he understudied, two-time All-American and Camden native Shawn Andrews, moved on early to the pros.
As a true freshman in 2002, Tubbs played the entire second half against South Carolina when Andrews was injured and started the following game against Louisiana-Monroe.
When Andrews turned professional in 2003 before the Independence Bowl, Tubbs started that 27-14 victory over Missouri. He started the first five games of 2004.
Then disaster struck during an Oct. 5 open date practice. He fractured his left ankle in two places, underwent surgery, and during the portion of recovery when he couldn’t move around much, suffered a blood clot in his leg that went to his lung.
Needless to say, Tubbs did not practice the spring of 2005.
But by August he thought he was well and could practice, then hurt the ankle again. Knowing he couldn’t play after a few plays of a season-ending debut three games into the year against Southern California, Tubbs preserved a hardship season for 2006.
He practiced last spring but certainly wasn’t ready for no-huddle; not that many linemen were. But he practiced every practice while his weight kept dropping.
“That’s what I’m proudest about,” strength coach Don Decker said, “he’s always had trouble with his body weight. But he’s held a high 340 now for eight or nine months without gaining weight when he goes home for Christmas break or spring break. His conditioning level is getting better. He’s moving better, bending better. Zac doesn’t have to wear the brace any more on his ankle.”
He’s good to go, trainer Dean Weber said.
“He had a lot of issues,” Weber said, “but he’s overcome all that and is doing well. As far as we are concerned, there don’t appear any limitations on him at all.”
That will include no-huddle, Tubbs vows.
“We weren’t used to it in the spring,” Tubbs said last Friday, “but we know it now.”
He’s fixing to know it a lot better, Decker says smiling.
Tubbs knows all about that, the simulated no-huddle crash course in summer conditioning before the Razorbacks report Aug. 4 for official practice commencing Aug. 5.
“We are going to start drills on it next week,” Tubbs said last Friday. “It’s all part of it to get our legs in shape. I feel real good and ready to go.”
Aside from the no-huddle, Tubbs has had to familiarize himself with the new pass-blocking scheme of Malzahn’s offense.
Something is comfortably familiar, though, for Tubbs and the rest of veteran offensive line coach Mike Markuson’s linemen.
They still get to block for sensational sophomore tailbacks Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.
“Any time you have those two guys back there and little Mike Smith (the redshirt freshman tailback injured in preseason last year), too,” Tubbs said ... “just give them a crease, and they make big things happen. I’m really excited about that. There’s a lot to be excited for.”
SPORTS >> AAA Bruins too much for ’Cats
BY JASON KING
Leader sports writer
IN SHORT: The Bruins took both games of a doubleheader against the Conway Wampus Cats Monday night at Kevin McReynolds Field in American Legion Class AAA action.
Sylvan Hills had an easy time with the Wampus Cats on Monday, sweeping both sides of a Class AAA American Legion twin bill at Kevin McReynolds Field in Sherwood. The Bruins won game one 4-1, followed by a strong offensive performance in game two to win 10-6.
Both starting pitchers went the distance for Sylvan Hills. Tony Pavan increased his season record to 6-3 in the opener, allowing five hits while giving up only one walk and striking out four batters.
Pavan retired eight straight batters from the top of the fifth until the top of the seventh, when an error allowed Casey Cooper to reach in the final inning.
Pavan has had a noticeable improvement in endurance while on the mound this summer.
He credits an increase in confidence as a key factor in his increased stamina.
“I feel like my arm is getting stronger,” Pavan said. “I have been able to build my confidence and strength. As the game went on, I felt like I could get ahead of the batters. That is what I think keeps me effective.”
Although Taylor Roark gave up eight hits and four walks in the nightcap, Conway did most of the damage in a single inning.
The Wampus Cats had their way with Roark in the top of the fourth inning, but he settled down for the remainder of the contest, only allowing two hits and one RBI from the fifth inning on.
The Bruins grabbed the lead early on in the opener off a RBI double from Ritchie Irvin that drove in Shawn Bybee and Austin Gwatney.
Bybee recorded a RBI of his own in the bottom of the fourth, sending in Nathan Van Schoyck with a single to give Sylvan Hills a 3-1 lead.
Taylor Roark added the final run for the Bruins in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring on a passed ball after reaching on an E7 fly.
The second game was a high- scoring affair, with 17 total hits in the game. Conway used the losing effort as a pitching clinic, putting five different hurlers on the mound throughout the contest.
Conway took the lead in the top of the second inning with a single from Jeremy Atkins that scored Luke Pruett for the first run of the game.
Sylvan Hills scored two runs in the bottom of the second courtesy of four straight base on balls from starting ‘Cats pitcher Jon Houston. Jordan Leach replaced Houston at the mound at that point.
Gwatney was the first batter Leach would face in the inning, forcing him into a rare 1-2-3 double play to retire the side for the Wampus Cats.
Conway took control of the game briefly in the top of the fourth inning. The Wampus Cats racked up four runs off of five hits and two walks from Roark to reclaim the lead 5-3 heading into the bottom of the fourth.
The lead did not last very long for Conway. The Bruins retaliated in the bottom of the inning with five runs off of five hits and two walks at the hands of two different Wampus Cat pitchers.
Gwatney drove in two runs with a single to left, and Hayden Miller followed that with a two-run RBI double of his own that scored Ryan Wood and Gwatney. Miller then came in with an Irwin single to give the Bruins an 8-5 lead after four.
Irwin and Jarrett Boles added the final two runs for Sylvan Hills in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Conway tried to mount a rally in the final inning, but a single run off of one walk and one hit was all Roark would allow, securing the win and the clean sweep for the Bruins.
Miller was 3 for 4 in game two with a triple and two RBIs. Boles was 2 for 3 for Sylvan Hills. For Conway, Atkins was 2 for 2 with a RBI.
The Bruins head into the final stretch of their regular-season schedule this week. They faced Gwatney Chevrolet at Dupree Park in another doubleheader last night after Leader deadlines, and will play a nine-inning road game against North Little Rock today at 6 p.m.
This weekend will wrap up season play for Sylvan Hills, with single nine-inning games at home against Russellville on Saturday and Little Rock Red on Sunday.
Leader sports writer
IN SHORT: The Bruins took both games of a doubleheader against the Conway Wampus Cats Monday night at Kevin McReynolds Field in American Legion Class AAA action.
Sylvan Hills had an easy time with the Wampus Cats on Monday, sweeping both sides of a Class AAA American Legion twin bill at Kevin McReynolds Field in Sherwood. The Bruins won game one 4-1, followed by a strong offensive performance in game two to win 10-6.
Both starting pitchers went the distance for Sylvan Hills. Tony Pavan increased his season record to 6-3 in the opener, allowing five hits while giving up only one walk and striking out four batters.
Pavan retired eight straight batters from the top of the fifth until the top of the seventh, when an error allowed Casey Cooper to reach in the final inning.
Pavan has had a noticeable improvement in endurance while on the mound this summer.
He credits an increase in confidence as a key factor in his increased stamina.
“I feel like my arm is getting stronger,” Pavan said. “I have been able to build my confidence and strength. As the game went on, I felt like I could get ahead of the batters. That is what I think keeps me effective.”
Although Taylor Roark gave up eight hits and four walks in the nightcap, Conway did most of the damage in a single inning.
The Wampus Cats had their way with Roark in the top of the fourth inning, but he settled down for the remainder of the contest, only allowing two hits and one RBI from the fifth inning on.
The Bruins grabbed the lead early on in the opener off a RBI double from Ritchie Irvin that drove in Shawn Bybee and Austin Gwatney.
Bybee recorded a RBI of his own in the bottom of the fourth, sending in Nathan Van Schoyck with a single to give Sylvan Hills a 3-1 lead.
Taylor Roark added the final run for the Bruins in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring on a passed ball after reaching on an E7 fly.
The second game was a high- scoring affair, with 17 total hits in the game. Conway used the losing effort as a pitching clinic, putting five different hurlers on the mound throughout the contest.
Conway took the lead in the top of the second inning with a single from Jeremy Atkins that scored Luke Pruett for the first run of the game.
Sylvan Hills scored two runs in the bottom of the second courtesy of four straight base on balls from starting ‘Cats pitcher Jon Houston. Jordan Leach replaced Houston at the mound at that point.
Gwatney was the first batter Leach would face in the inning, forcing him into a rare 1-2-3 double play to retire the side for the Wampus Cats.
Conway took control of the game briefly in the top of the fourth inning. The Wampus Cats racked up four runs off of five hits and two walks from Roark to reclaim the lead 5-3 heading into the bottom of the fourth.
The lead did not last very long for Conway. The Bruins retaliated in the bottom of the inning with five runs off of five hits and two walks at the hands of two different Wampus Cat pitchers.
Gwatney drove in two runs with a single to left, and Hayden Miller followed that with a two-run RBI double of his own that scored Ryan Wood and Gwatney. Miller then came in with an Irwin single to give the Bruins an 8-5 lead after four.
Irwin and Jarrett Boles added the final two runs for Sylvan Hills in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Conway tried to mount a rally in the final inning, but a single run off of one walk and one hit was all Roark would allow, securing the win and the clean sweep for the Bruins.
Miller was 3 for 4 in game two with a triple and two RBIs. Boles was 2 for 3 for Sylvan Hills. For Conway, Atkins was 2 for 2 with a RBI.
The Bruins head into the final stretch of their regular-season schedule this week. They faced Gwatney Chevrolet at Dupree Park in another doubleheader last night after Leader deadlines, and will play a nine-inning road game against North Little Rock today at 6 p.m.
This weekend will wrap up season play for Sylvan Hills, with single nine-inning games at home against Russellville on Saturday and Little Rock Red on Sunday.
Friday, July 07, 2006
TOP STORY >> Animals will soon get new shelter
BY JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
IN SHORT: City employees are pitching in to get the facility ready for its July 17 opening.
City employees are pitching in to get Cabot’s new animal shelter ready to open soon.
Jim Towe, the city’s director of public works, said Friday that he and City Engineer Gail Mainard will work this weekend and evenings next week to help complete the $452,000, 7,000-square-foot facility.
Specifically, they intend to complete the bathroom this weekend, including painting the cabinet and installing the laminate top, he said.
Both Towe and Mainard are salaried workers, so their “overtime” hours don’t cost the city extra, he said.
If all the work is completed as expected, the shelter should be ready to open by the week of July 17, Towe said, but it is too soon to say when the grand opening will be held.
Cabot City Beautiful is expected to landscape the grounds next week, he said. Workers are currently laying the tile floor and hanging solid wood doors that were donated anonymously.
Towe said it is disappointing that the building was not completed in time for this weekend’s ball tournament at the Allman-Bevis Sports Complex, where the shelter is located. But he said there will be other events at the complex, and the stray animals the shelter will house will have a much better chance of finding homes than the ones at the old shelter at 800 Kerr Station Road beside the old city shop.
In addition to the better location, the new shelter will have an inside play area and an outside play area, so prospective pet owners will have a chance to get to know the animals before they take them home.
The new shelter also will have two rooms for cats, which cannot be housed at the old shelter, a puppy room, 20 kennels, a laundry room for washing bedding, an office, a room for storing food and one for preparing it, a quarantine room and a room for euthanizing animals that are not adopted and is being called a “surgery room.”
One more advantage at the new shelter is the number of volunteers who are expected to help with the animals.
“We’ve got people coming out of our ears wanting to volunteer,” Towe said. “I don’t blame them for not wanting to come to the old one with the shape it’s in. But we’ve got a lot of people who want to help out at this one.”
The new shelter is part of a $28 million bond issue that is supported by a 1-cent tax. In addition to $200,000 for the shelter, the bond issue includes $7 million to pay off the old bonds, $16.5 million for a sewer treatment plant, $1.5 million to help build a community center that is now under construction, $1.8 million for street improvements and $800,000 for the city’s part of a railroad overpass near Austin.
A small part of the money for the new animal shelter was donated or earned through fundraisers, but most of the $250,000 that was available for the shelter before the bond issue came from the city’s general fund.
Leader staff writer
IN SHORT: City employees are pitching in to get the facility ready for its July 17 opening.
City employees are pitching in to get Cabot’s new animal shelter ready to open soon.
Jim Towe, the city’s director of public works, said Friday that he and City Engineer Gail Mainard will work this weekend and evenings next week to help complete the $452,000, 7,000-square-foot facility.
Specifically, they intend to complete the bathroom this weekend, including painting the cabinet and installing the laminate top, he said.
Both Towe and Mainard are salaried workers, so their “overtime” hours don’t cost the city extra, he said.
If all the work is completed as expected, the shelter should be ready to open by the week of July 17, Towe said, but it is too soon to say when the grand opening will be held.
Cabot City Beautiful is expected to landscape the grounds next week, he said. Workers are currently laying the tile floor and hanging solid wood doors that were donated anonymously.
Towe said it is disappointing that the building was not completed in time for this weekend’s ball tournament at the Allman-Bevis Sports Complex, where the shelter is located. But he said there will be other events at the complex, and the stray animals the shelter will house will have a much better chance of finding homes than the ones at the old shelter at 800 Kerr Station Road beside the old city shop.
In addition to the better location, the new shelter will have an inside play area and an outside play area, so prospective pet owners will have a chance to get to know the animals before they take them home.
The new shelter also will have two rooms for cats, which cannot be housed at the old shelter, a puppy room, 20 kennels, a laundry room for washing bedding, an office, a room for storing food and one for preparing it, a quarantine room and a room for euthanizing animals that are not adopted and is being called a “surgery room.”
One more advantage at the new shelter is the number of volunteers who are expected to help with the animals.
“We’ve got people coming out of our ears wanting to volunteer,” Towe said. “I don’t blame them for not wanting to come to the old one with the shape it’s in. But we’ve got a lot of people who want to help out at this one.”
The new shelter is part of a $28 million bond issue that is supported by a 1-cent tax. In addition to $200,000 for the shelter, the bond issue includes $7 million to pay off the old bonds, $16.5 million for a sewer treatment plant, $1.5 million to help build a community center that is now under construction, $1.8 million for street improvements and $800,000 for the city’s part of a railroad overpass near Austin.
A small part of the money for the new animal shelter was donated or earned through fundraisers, but most of the $250,000 that was available for the shelter before the bond issue came from the city’s general fund.
TOP STORY >> Band high steps in Washington
BY SARA GREENE
Leader staff writer
IN SHORT: Cabot High School Band marched and played before a national audience during the national Independence Day Parade down Constitution Avenue in the U.S. capital.
The Cabot High School Band made its national debut during the Independence Day Parade in Washington Tuesday. Cabot had 168 band members in the mile-long parade playing for 90 minutes for more than 250,000 spectators.
“It’s quite a feeling to be standing on Constitution Avenue, playing patriotic music on the Fourth of July,” said Cabot High School Band director Joe Trusty. The band performed “Tribute to America,” a medley of “God Bless America” and “This Is My Country.”
Forty adults accompanied the students to Washington, including Mark Tenney, assistant band director at Cabot High School, and the junior high band directors John Prater, Kara Reynolds, Erica Hahn and Janet Granderson.
“It was a good experience,” said trumpet player Daniel Gates, 18.
“I definitely want to go back because we only saw half the things up there,” Gates said.
The students have been preparing for the trip since December to raise the $130,000 needed for the trip, as well as practicing twice a week since school got out.
Even with the most rigorous training, marching with instruments, in full uniform in the 94-degree temperature proved too much for a handful of students who had to step out of the parade to rest.
“I think every band there had people stepping out. I could not have been more proud of our students,” Trusty said.
There was plenty of fun and sightseeing once the group arrived in the nation’s capital.
On Monday, the band placed a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers in Arlington National Cemetery.
“That was the most moving experience in my life. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place,” said Doug Gates, Daniel’s father and chaperone.
“The kids were great. They were well behaved, patient and flexible whenever we had a rain delay here or a traffic jam there,” Gates said.
After the parade, the group rested before another round of sightseeing and watching the fireworks display over the National Mall.
“I’ve been to Disney World on the Fourth of July, and that fireworks display was nothing compared to what we saw in Washington,” said Tom Lieblong, one of the parents on the trip. His son Joshua also plays trumpet.
“It was the first time to travel for a lot of those kids and it was a great trip,” Lieblong said.
Leader staff writer
IN SHORT: Cabot High School Band marched and played before a national audience during the national Independence Day Parade down Constitution Avenue in the U.S. capital.
The Cabot High School Band made its national debut during the Independence Day Parade in Washington Tuesday. Cabot had 168 band members in the mile-long parade playing for 90 minutes for more than 250,000 spectators.
“It’s quite a feeling to be standing on Constitution Avenue, playing patriotic music on the Fourth of July,” said Cabot High School Band director Joe Trusty. The band performed “Tribute to America,” a medley of “God Bless America” and “This Is My Country.”
Forty adults accompanied the students to Washington, including Mark Tenney, assistant band director at Cabot High School, and the junior high band directors John Prater, Kara Reynolds, Erica Hahn and Janet Granderson.
“It was a good experience,” said trumpet player Daniel Gates, 18.
“I definitely want to go back because we only saw half the things up there,” Gates said.
The students have been preparing for the trip since December to raise the $130,000 needed for the trip, as well as practicing twice a week since school got out.
Even with the most rigorous training, marching with instruments, in full uniform in the 94-degree temperature proved too much for a handful of students who had to step out of the parade to rest.
“I think every band there had people stepping out. I could not have been more proud of our students,” Trusty said.
There was plenty of fun and sightseeing once the group arrived in the nation’s capital.
On Monday, the band placed a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers in Arlington National Cemetery.
“That was the most moving experience in my life. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place,” said Doug Gates, Daniel’s father and chaperone.
“The kids were great. They were well behaved, patient and flexible whenever we had a rain delay here or a traffic jam there,” Gates said.
After the parade, the group rested before another round of sightseeing and watching the fireworks display over the National Mall.
“I’ve been to Disney World on the Fourth of July, and that fireworks display was nothing compared to what we saw in Washington,” said Tom Lieblong, one of the parents on the trip. His son Joshua also plays trumpet.
“It was the first time to travel for a lot of those kids and it was a great trip,” Lieblong said.
TOP STORY >> New group commander
BY SARA GREENE
Leader staff writer
IN SHORT: Col. Lockard takes over command of the 314th Mission Support Group at Little Rock Air Force Base from Col. Starkey during a ceremony Wednesday.
Retiring Col. John Starkey passed the reins of leadership of the 314th Mission Support Group to Col. Scott Lockard Wednesday during a ceremony inside a hangar at Little Rock Air Force Base.
Lockard is the former deputy commander for operations for the 463rd Airlift Group at the base. A replacement for Lockard has not been named yet, according to Col. John Gomez, commander of the 463rd Airlift Group.
“The biggest challenge I’m facing is getting to know the people and the job specialties in the mission support group,” Lockard told The Leader.
Brig. Gen. Kip Self, commander at LRAFB, said it is always hard to say goodbye to great leaders like Starkey, but the general has confidence in Lockard’s ability to lead the mission support group.
“If I had to sum up Scott Lockard in one word, it would be ‘Git-R-Done’ because Scott gets things done. I look forward to watching his smoke,” Self said, combining the Air Force reference of watching the smoking engines of a jet fighter with the catchphrase of blue-collar television comic Dan Whitney, more commonly known as Larry the Cable Guy.
“I try to say ‘yous guys’ like John Starkey, but it just doesn’t work with my Southern drawl. You’ll just have to settle for ‘y’all,’” Lockard told the troops of the 314th Mission Support Group, poking fun at Starkey’s New York accent.
Born in Siaoghters, Ky., Lockard entered the military at Mather Air Force Base in California. He rose through the ranks at Nellis, Pope, Scott and McGuire Air Force bases to become the commander of the 36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Force Base, Japan.
Before arriving at LRAFB, Lockard was the assistant director for operations for the National Military Command Center at the Pentagon. As a navigator, he has more than 2,400 hours of flight time.
His decorations include two Ku-wait Liberation medals for service in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, the National Defense Service Medal with a star, the Air Force Commen-dation Medal, the Southwest Asia Service medal with two oak leaf clusters and the Humanitarian Service Medal.
Leader staff writer
IN SHORT: Col. Lockard takes over command of the 314th Mission Support Group at Little Rock Air Force Base from Col. Starkey during a ceremony Wednesday.
Retiring Col. John Starkey passed the reins of leadership of the 314th Mission Support Group to Col. Scott Lockard Wednesday during a ceremony inside a hangar at Little Rock Air Force Base.
Lockard is the former deputy commander for operations for the 463rd Airlift Group at the base. A replacement for Lockard has not been named yet, according to Col. John Gomez, commander of the 463rd Airlift Group.
“The biggest challenge I’m facing is getting to know the people and the job specialties in the mission support group,” Lockard told The Leader.
Brig. Gen. Kip Self, commander at LRAFB, said it is always hard to say goodbye to great leaders like Starkey, but the general has confidence in Lockard’s ability to lead the mission support group.
“If I had to sum up Scott Lockard in one word, it would be ‘Git-R-Done’ because Scott gets things done. I look forward to watching his smoke,” Self said, combining the Air Force reference of watching the smoking engines of a jet fighter with the catchphrase of blue-collar television comic Dan Whitney, more commonly known as Larry the Cable Guy.
“I try to say ‘yous guys’ like John Starkey, but it just doesn’t work with my Southern drawl. You’ll just have to settle for ‘y’all,’” Lockard told the troops of the 314th Mission Support Group, poking fun at Starkey’s New York accent.
Born in Siaoghters, Ky., Lockard entered the military at Mather Air Force Base in California. He rose through the ranks at Nellis, Pope, Scott and McGuire Air Force bases to become the commander of the 36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Force Base, Japan.
Before arriving at LRAFB, Lockard was the assistant director for operations for the National Military Command Center at the Pentagon. As a navigator, he has more than 2,400 hours of flight time.
His decorations include two Ku-wait Liberation medals for service in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, the National Defense Service Medal with a star, the Air Force Commen-dation Medal, the Southwest Asia Service medal with two oak leaf clusters and the Humanitarian Service Medal.
TOP STORY >> More water to flow
BY PEG KENYON
Leader staff writer
IN SHORT: Jacksonville is paying $6.7 million for a line from Little Rock, including $2 million for a water tower here.
A multi-million dollar water project is underway as a transmission line makes its way toward Jacksonville and will benefit the entire region.
A bid of $6.7 million to construct pipes across the I-430 bridge spanning the Arkansas River marks the next step of a $44 million project to switch Jacksonville’s dependency on water wells in Lonoke County to Little Rock-based Central Arkansas Water, according to Ken Anderson, general manager for Jacksonville Water Department. This will help Jacksonville, Cabot and north Pulaski County water departments tap into the Central Arkansas Water supply.
Of the $44 million project, $14.3 million will be Jacksonville’s financial responsibility.
“The cost will be shared by Central Arkansas Water, Jackson-ville, Cabot and North Pulaski County Water Works,” Anderson explained.
This week, a sign denoting a future water tower stood between the Redmond Road railroad tracks and the south end of the newly-developed Hidden Oaks subdivision. The sign indicates that upon completion, the elevated tank will hold one million gallons of water. The cost to build the water tower is set at $2 million.
One of two transmission lines allowing CAW to pump water to Jacksonville will connect at this site, Anderson explained.
It will follow the route of existing railroad tracks toward the Brushy Island area. Going past the Two Pines landfill, this transmission line will tie into one of CAW’s existing lines.
lay the water pipeline at $4.5 million.
This part of the project requires easements as well.
“There are only three or four major landowners on this side, and the landfill has already agreed to it,” Anderson told The Leader.
Shoring up this project to ensure Jacksonville has an adequate water source is a concern for local leaders. “The well system aquifer keeps dropping every year,” Anderson said.
“At the level we’re pumping now, we could go to 2015 before production from the wells would be decreased.”
A second transmission line heading toward Gravel Ridge to the west of Jacksonville must also be completed, but its exact route has yet to be determined. It will cost more to complete this water line.
“At the end of the project, Jacksonville will have four tanks (water towers) and maybe a fifth one, depending on the Sherwood annexation,” Anderson said.
Per request by property owners, the city south of Jacksonville plans to annex undeveloped land, which includes an area to the north and east of Bayou Meto.
Local funding to cover expenditures for the project has already begun.
In 2005, Jacksonville water customers felt the impact of a 28 percent rate hike in 2005. The increase was expected to generate an $849,639 increase in revenue, Anderson said.
This year, 12.5 percent rate hike took place and even more cash flow is expected. This year’s estimate is set at $1.25 million. In 2007, a rate hike of 10.5 percent could generate nearly $1.7 million. In 2008, the figure could rise to $2.1 million.
Prior to this plan, Jacksonville water customers experienced its last rate hike in 2000. Before 2000, Jacksonville’s water rate had remained the same for 15 years, Anderson said.
Leader staff writer
IN SHORT: Jacksonville is paying $6.7 million for a line from Little Rock, including $2 million for a water tower here.
A multi-million dollar water project is underway as a transmission line makes its way toward Jacksonville and will benefit the entire region.
A bid of $6.7 million to construct pipes across the I-430 bridge spanning the Arkansas River marks the next step of a $44 million project to switch Jacksonville’s dependency on water wells in Lonoke County to Little Rock-based Central Arkansas Water, according to Ken Anderson, general manager for Jacksonville Water Department. This will help Jacksonville, Cabot and north Pulaski County water departments tap into the Central Arkansas Water supply.
Of the $44 million project, $14.3 million will be Jacksonville’s financial responsibility.
“The cost will be shared by Central Arkansas Water, Jackson-ville, Cabot and North Pulaski County Water Works,” Anderson explained.
This week, a sign denoting a future water tower stood between the Redmond Road railroad tracks and the south end of the newly-developed Hidden Oaks subdivision. The sign indicates that upon completion, the elevated tank will hold one million gallons of water. The cost to build the water tower is set at $2 million.
One of two transmission lines allowing CAW to pump water to Jacksonville will connect at this site, Anderson explained.
It will follow the route of existing railroad tracks toward the Brushy Island area. Going past the Two Pines landfill, this transmission line will tie into one of CAW’s existing lines.
lay the water pipeline at $4.5 million.
This part of the project requires easements as well.
“There are only three or four major landowners on this side, and the landfill has already agreed to it,” Anderson told The Leader.
Shoring up this project to ensure Jacksonville has an adequate water source is a concern for local leaders. “The well system aquifer keeps dropping every year,” Anderson said.
“At the level we’re pumping now, we could go to 2015 before production from the wells would be decreased.”
A second transmission line heading toward Gravel Ridge to the west of Jacksonville must also be completed, but its exact route has yet to be determined. It will cost more to complete this water line.
“At the end of the project, Jacksonville will have four tanks (water towers) and maybe a fifth one, depending on the Sherwood annexation,” Anderson said.
Per request by property owners, the city south of Jacksonville plans to annex undeveloped land, which includes an area to the north and east of Bayou Meto.
Local funding to cover expenditures for the project has already begun.
In 2005, Jacksonville water customers felt the impact of a 28 percent rate hike in 2005. The increase was expected to generate an $849,639 increase in revenue, Anderson said.
This year, 12.5 percent rate hike took place and even more cash flow is expected. This year’s estimate is set at $1.25 million. In 2007, a rate hike of 10.5 percent could generate nearly $1.7 million. In 2008, the figure could rise to $2.1 million.
Prior to this plan, Jacksonville water customers experienced its last rate hike in 2000. Before 2000, Jacksonville’s water rate had remained the same for 15 years, Anderson said.
TOP STORY >> Suspect arrested for two killings
BY PEG KENYON
Leader staff writer
IN SHORT: Jacksonville man waives extradition in the recent slayings of a father and son.
After waiving extradition on a fugitive warrant last week in Little Rock, a Jacksonville man accused of an out-of-state double homicide of a father and son is being held without bond at Montgomery County Jail in Tennessee.
This week, deputies from Mont-gomery County Sheriff’s Office took custody of Chinu Kim, 23, of Jacksonville from the Pulaski County Regional Detention Center in Little Rock before transporting him to Tennessee. Kim was then charged with two felony counts of first-degree murder, three counts of felony murder, one felony count of especially aggravated kidnapping, one felony count of aggravated kidnapping and one felony count of theft of property involving a vehicle.
These charges were prompted by a Montgomery County grand jury, which returned indictments and warrants for Kim for the double homicides.
According to Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department personnel, there were only two murders and the other counts dealt with felonies allegedly committed during the incidents.
On June 23, Juan J. Vasquez, 45, was found slain at 912 Dominion Drive in Clarksville, Tenn., and the body of 18-year-old Thomas L. Vasquez was located at a high school in Mont-gomery County, Tenn.
The father was known to be a civil rights advocate, according to out-of-state media reports.
Initially, Jacksonville police took the suspect into custody on the fugitive warrant on June 24. Larry Hodge, a deputy at Montgomery County, initially referred to Kim as a “person of interest.”
The fugitive warrant involving theft was out of Clarksville, Tenn.
Hours after murder victims were located in, Jacksonville police were alerted about a local man wanted by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department possibly being in the area.
Local police officers arrested Kim, 912 Martin St., on a fugitive warrant at about 1:30 a.m. on June 24.
This investigation was handled by the Clarksville Police and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department. Both are located in Tennessee.
Lt. Joe Stevenson, public information officer for Clarksville Police Department, previously indicated that the two murders were possibly related.
Leader staff writer
IN SHORT: Jacksonville man waives extradition in the recent slayings of a father and son.
After waiving extradition on a fugitive warrant last week in Little Rock, a Jacksonville man accused of an out-of-state double homicide of a father and son is being held without bond at Montgomery County Jail in Tennessee.
This week, deputies from Mont-gomery County Sheriff’s Office took custody of Chinu Kim, 23, of Jacksonville from the Pulaski County Regional Detention Center in Little Rock before transporting him to Tennessee. Kim was then charged with two felony counts of first-degree murder, three counts of felony murder, one felony count of especially aggravated kidnapping, one felony count of aggravated kidnapping and one felony count of theft of property involving a vehicle.
These charges were prompted by a Montgomery County grand jury, which returned indictments and warrants for Kim for the double homicides.
According to Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department personnel, there were only two murders and the other counts dealt with felonies allegedly committed during the incidents.
On June 23, Juan J. Vasquez, 45, was found slain at 912 Dominion Drive in Clarksville, Tenn., and the body of 18-year-old Thomas L. Vasquez was located at a high school in Mont-gomery County, Tenn.
The father was known to be a civil rights advocate, according to out-of-state media reports.
Initially, Jacksonville police took the suspect into custody on the fugitive warrant on June 24. Larry Hodge, a deputy at Montgomery County, initially referred to Kim as a “person of interest.”
The fugitive warrant involving theft was out of Clarksville, Tenn.
Hours after murder victims were located in, Jacksonville police were alerted about a local man wanted by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department possibly being in the area.
Local police officers arrested Kim, 912 Martin St., on a fugitive warrant at about 1:30 a.m. on June 24.
This investigation was handled by the Clarksville Police and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department. Both are located in Tennessee.
Lt. Joe Stevenson, public information officer for Clarksville Police Department, previously indicated that the two murders were possibly related.
TOP STORY >> Wife charged in murder of her husband
BY RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
A week after celebrating her 53rd birthday, a Sherwood woman is in jail charged in the shooting death of her husband. She supposedly shot and killed her husband during an argument early Friday morning in their Sherwood apartment.
Carolyn Cooper, 53, of 9901 Brockington Road, Apt. B-14, was charged with first-degree murder and is in the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility with a bond set at $500,000.
The murder, the first for the city since Oct. 3, 2003, is still under investigation. But according to information released by the police so far, officers responded to the apartment at 1:04 a.m. and found Gregory W. Cooper, 55, shot multiple times. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He was apparently shot during an argument.
No court dates had been set as of Friday afternoon.
Leader staff writer
A week after celebrating her 53rd birthday, a Sherwood woman is in jail charged in the shooting death of her husband. She supposedly shot and killed her husband during an argument early Friday morning in their Sherwood apartment.
Carolyn Cooper, 53, of 9901 Brockington Road, Apt. B-14, was charged with first-degree murder and is in the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility with a bond set at $500,000.
The murder, the first for the city since Oct. 3, 2003, is still under investigation. But according to information released by the police so far, officers responded to the apartment at 1:04 a.m. and found Gregory W. Cooper, 55, shot multiple times. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He was apparently shot during an argument.
No court dates had been set as of Friday afternoon.
EDITORIAL >> What to do with surplus
The appearance of a sizable surplus in the treasury provides fun and political opportunity for every state officeholder.
Merely to talk about taxpayer rebates and tax cuts is manna for troubled political careers. When the year-end revenue report calculated the general-revenue surplus for fiscal 2006 at $403 million, Gov. Huckabee, the major-party candidates for governor and several lawmakers were talking, although very vaguely, about giving some of the money back to taxpayers in the form of rebates, reduced tax rates or both.
No one would wish for the opposite, a big shortfall in tax collections, but citizens and taxpayers should be aware that big surpluses can also spell danger. In fact, they have nearly always been precursors of fiscal troubles.
Memories are not so short that we can forget the big surpluses of President Clinton’s last two years in office, the first federal surplus in 30 years and the first back-to-back surpluses in more than half a century. Clinton was able to brag in 1999 and 2000 about using the surpluses to pay down the national debt and shore up Social Security.
President Bush had a different idea. He got a Republican Congress to cut taxes sharply for corporations, the wealthy and their heirs, which he said would stimulate investment and create tens of millions of new jobs.
He predicted prosperity and even bigger surpluses. Instead, record deficits returned.
But Arkansas does not have the luxury of deficits. Unlike the president, the governor and legislature cannot print money or borrow from the central bank of China to cover the state’s spending when the economy turns south again. They have to raise taxes or eliminate services.
The last time the state began to stack up modest surpluses was under Gov. Jim Guy Tucker and his successor, Mike Huckabee.
Huckabee championed a tax cut, and the legislature in 1997 passed a phased reduction in personal income taxes that Gov. Tucker and the Democratic House speaker had fashioned. Huckabee signed it and forever after became a tax cutter.
He tells Republican audiences about it this summer as he campaigns for president. He tells people (wrongly) that he is the only Arkansas governor in modern times to cut taxes.
But let us scan the whole picture. Not long after the tax cuts took effect, the economy soured and the state faced the prospect of cutting Medicaid and other services to keep the budget balanced. Instead, the governor and the legislature raised taxes, and raised them again. They levied a temporary income surtax. They reimposed a beer tax. Since 1997, they have raised the sales tax three times by a total of 1.5 percent and expanded it to a few services, and they raised motor fuel taxes by a nickel a gallon.
While tax collections exceeded spending by $403 million in the year just ended and a smaller surplus is forecast for the new fiscal year, regional indicators suggest that the economy is cooling and that state revenues will slump, as they always do.
Gov. Huckabee said he would like to give some of the surplus back to taxpayers, but he wants legislators to demand that he call them into session to do it. He would like to carry some credit for tax relief into a presidential campaign, but he doesn’t want to risk looking ineffective if the legislators did something else. Sen. Tracy Steele of North Little Rock suggests sending a little check to taxpayers.
But it would indeed be only a gesture, and the little refund would not go to tens of thousands of taxpayers who need it the most, the poorest working families who are not on the income tax rolls.
Mike Beebe and Asa Hutchinson, the candidates for governor, want to use the occasion to reduce taxes on groceries when the legislature assembles in January. Since the Arkansas tax system is one of the most regressive in the country, the idea has some appeal.
But billionaires do not need relief from taxes on their porterhouses, nor do most of us. There is nothing innately unfair about a tax on food except for those on whom it really is a burden. A better way to achieve this relief is an earned income tax credit that refunds grocery and utility taxes for those struggling to pay their bills. It would help those in need without jeopardizing the state’s solvency.
As for the surplus, which will approach $700 million when the legislature gathers again in January, the needs exceed even that sum.
The state still must comply with the court mandate to improve substandard schools throughout the state. Prisons and jails are packed and if the state is not going to change the sentencing grid it should build more prisons so that criminals are not routinely released because there is no room for them.
Construction at colleges and universities should be funded from the surplus rather than through long-term debt, as Gov. Huckabee and the legislature proposed last year. And the state should establish a rainy-day fund of perhaps $200 million to protect services from long economic downturns.
When politicians talk like the business cycle has been repealed, we need to be prudent and realistic, and then take a firm grip on our pocketbooks.
Merely to talk about taxpayer rebates and tax cuts is manna for troubled political careers. When the year-end revenue report calculated the general-revenue surplus for fiscal 2006 at $403 million, Gov. Huckabee, the major-party candidates for governor and several lawmakers were talking, although very vaguely, about giving some of the money back to taxpayers in the form of rebates, reduced tax rates or both.
No one would wish for the opposite, a big shortfall in tax collections, but citizens and taxpayers should be aware that big surpluses can also spell danger. In fact, they have nearly always been precursors of fiscal troubles.
Memories are not so short that we can forget the big surpluses of President Clinton’s last two years in office, the first federal surplus in 30 years and the first back-to-back surpluses in more than half a century. Clinton was able to brag in 1999 and 2000 about using the surpluses to pay down the national debt and shore up Social Security.
President Bush had a different idea. He got a Republican Congress to cut taxes sharply for corporations, the wealthy and their heirs, which he said would stimulate investment and create tens of millions of new jobs.
He predicted prosperity and even bigger surpluses. Instead, record deficits returned.
But Arkansas does not have the luxury of deficits. Unlike the president, the governor and legislature cannot print money or borrow from the central bank of China to cover the state’s spending when the economy turns south again. They have to raise taxes or eliminate services.
The last time the state began to stack up modest surpluses was under Gov. Jim Guy Tucker and his successor, Mike Huckabee.
Huckabee championed a tax cut, and the legislature in 1997 passed a phased reduction in personal income taxes that Gov. Tucker and the Democratic House speaker had fashioned. Huckabee signed it and forever after became a tax cutter.
He tells Republican audiences about it this summer as he campaigns for president. He tells people (wrongly) that he is the only Arkansas governor in modern times to cut taxes.
But let us scan the whole picture. Not long after the tax cuts took effect, the economy soured and the state faced the prospect of cutting Medicaid and other services to keep the budget balanced. Instead, the governor and the legislature raised taxes, and raised them again. They levied a temporary income surtax. They reimposed a beer tax. Since 1997, they have raised the sales tax three times by a total of 1.5 percent and expanded it to a few services, and they raised motor fuel taxes by a nickel a gallon.
While tax collections exceeded spending by $403 million in the year just ended and a smaller surplus is forecast for the new fiscal year, regional indicators suggest that the economy is cooling and that state revenues will slump, as they always do.
Gov. Huckabee said he would like to give some of the surplus back to taxpayers, but he wants legislators to demand that he call them into session to do it. He would like to carry some credit for tax relief into a presidential campaign, but he doesn’t want to risk looking ineffective if the legislators did something else. Sen. Tracy Steele of North Little Rock suggests sending a little check to taxpayers.
But it would indeed be only a gesture, and the little refund would not go to tens of thousands of taxpayers who need it the most, the poorest working families who are not on the income tax rolls.
Mike Beebe and Asa Hutchinson, the candidates for governor, want to use the occasion to reduce taxes on groceries when the legislature assembles in January. Since the Arkansas tax system is one of the most regressive in the country, the idea has some appeal.
But billionaires do not need relief from taxes on their porterhouses, nor do most of us. There is nothing innately unfair about a tax on food except for those on whom it really is a burden. A better way to achieve this relief is an earned income tax credit that refunds grocery and utility taxes for those struggling to pay their bills. It would help those in need without jeopardizing the state’s solvency.
As for the surplus, which will approach $700 million when the legislature gathers again in January, the needs exceed even that sum.
The state still must comply with the court mandate to improve substandard schools throughout the state. Prisons and jails are packed and if the state is not going to change the sentencing grid it should build more prisons so that criminals are not routinely released because there is no room for them.
Construction at colleges and universities should be funded from the surplus rather than through long-term debt, as Gov. Huckabee and the legislature proposed last year. And the state should establish a rainy-day fund of perhaps $200 million to protect services from long economic downturns.
When politicians talk like the business cycle has been repealed, we need to be prudent and realistic, and then take a firm grip on our pocketbooks.
OBITUARIES >> 07-08-06
WILLIAM MCLEAN
William Vernon McLean, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed on to be with the Lord on July 5. He was preceeded in death by his parents and one son, Roland “Buddy” McLean. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Ava McLean; one son, Randy and wife Pricilla McLean; four daughters, Peggy and husband Boyce Nichols, Laurie and husband Randy Phillips, Rhonda and husband Charles Farmer and Mary McLean; 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. today at Boyd Funeral Home, Lonoke with interment in Old Carlisle Cemetery. Arrangements by Boyd Funeral Home.
JIMMIE GLOVER
Jimmie Joe Glover, 70, died July 7. He was a member of Lonoke Baptist Church, was retired from the military, a member of the Masonic Lodge and a 25-year faithful employee and funeral director at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke.
Survivors include his wife Martha Glover; children, Billie Dean and husband Bill Reed of Carlisle, Debbie Thomason of Louisiana, Rosemary and husband Teddy Hoskins of Kentucky, Pamela and husband Craig Blackard of Lonoke and Jimmy Ray “Rowdy” and wife Beverly Glover of Kentucky; brothers and sisters, Shirley Lewis of East End, Charlotte Kinslow and Dixie Rye of Lonoke, Sonny Glover of Cherokee Village and Ray Glover of Carlisle; grandchildren, Brooke, Zack and Tyler Reed of Carlisle, Carmen Fletcher of Louisiana, Heather, Ryan and Kaci Hoskins, Megan and Paige Glover , all of Kentucky and Taylor and Peyton Blackard of Lonoke.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Marvin and Essie Glover and a sister Rosemary Glover. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Sunday at Lonoke Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Arrangements by Boyd Funeral Home of Lonoke.
JEAN HAZEL
Jean R. Hazel, 73, of El Paso, was born Sept. 11, 1932, in El Paso to James “Sam” and Bessie Riley; and died July 4. She was owner of Jean Hazel Tax Co., and was a member of Oak Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Raymond G. Hazel, and her stepdaughter, Charlotte Rogers.
She is survived by one stepdaughter, Phyllis Bohannon of Florida; one stepson-in-law, Paul Rogers of El Paso; five brothers, James and wife Alice Riley of Ward, Tom, Sr. and wife Lela Riley, Jerry and wife Lula Riley, Doug and wife Kay Riley and Don and wife Arlena Riley, all of El Paso; four step-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren. Funeral will be services were held Friday at Westbrook Funeral Home, with burial in Blasingame Cemetery.
JEROLD MULLOY
Jerold Alan Mulloy, 62, of Jacksonville, died June 30. He was born July 23, 1943. He served as a captain in the Marines. He received the purple heart for injuries sustained in Vietnam and was a member of the Retired Military Association. Survivors include his wife, Wanda Wooten Mulloy of Jacksonville, daughters; Shannon Hickman and husband Michael of Ashland, Ore., and Shelly Mulloy of Jacksonville, his mother, Grace Mulloy of Yreka, Calif., brother, Larry Mulloy of Yreka, Calif., and grandchildren; Franklin LimeMa Mulloy and Kathy Mulloy. Private services will be set at a later date. Funeral arrangements are under direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
MABEL WILLIAMS
Mabel Blakeley Williams 93, of Jacksonville died July 4. She was a native of Sparkman. She was born Dec. 28, 1912, to Henry J. and Lucy Avant Blakeley.
She graduated from Sparkman High School in 1930, where she was a member of the nationally known girls basketball team the “Sparkman Sparklers.”
The team participated in three national tournaments at Witchita, Kan., during high school and two such tournaments in college, placing high in each tournament. The team was recently inducted into the Dallas County Sports Hall of Fame.
She attended Crescent College, a Junior College for Girls, where she earned an Associate of Arts degree. After college, she married Stuart Williams, had two sons, and settled in Jacksonville. She was an officer of First Arkansas Bank and Trust. She was a member of First United Methodist Church; a Fifty-plus year member and past Matron and Deputy Grand Lecturer of the Order of the Eastern Star; Past President of National Business and Professional Women; Wesleyan Service Guild; Demolay Mother; Cub Scout Den Mother; and Former Member of the National Association of Bank Women. She was also an avid Bridge Player for over 50 years and wrote a weekly column, “Reveries” for the Jacksonville Daily News for several years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Stuart Williams; a brother, Jim Blakely; a sister, Marguerite Brittan; and her parents. Survivors include her two sons, Lt. Col. (Ret.) James R. (Bob) Williams and wife Ethel of Ocean Springs, MS; and Jack M. Williams and his wife Betty of Roswell, GA; three grandsons, Bret Williams, Kelly Williams, and Tim Mull-inax; two granddaughters, Rebecca Smith and Shaney Malloy; four great granddaughters and two great grandsons. She is also survived by a sister, Rachel Heffner of Pine Bluff, AR and her very special best friend of sixty years, Melda Rice.
Funeral Services were held Friday at First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville with Rev. Carol Goddard officiating. Internment followed at Rest Hills Memorial Park in Sherwood. Funeral arrangements by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home. The Leader published a feature on Williams on June 14.
William Vernon McLean, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed on to be with the Lord on July 5. He was preceeded in death by his parents and one son, Roland “Buddy” McLean. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Ava McLean; one son, Randy and wife Pricilla McLean; four daughters, Peggy and husband Boyce Nichols, Laurie and husband Randy Phillips, Rhonda and husband Charles Farmer and Mary McLean; 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. today at Boyd Funeral Home, Lonoke with interment in Old Carlisle Cemetery. Arrangements by Boyd Funeral Home.
JIMMIE GLOVER
Jimmie Joe Glover, 70, died July 7. He was a member of Lonoke Baptist Church, was retired from the military, a member of the Masonic Lodge and a 25-year faithful employee and funeral director at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke.
Survivors include his wife Martha Glover; children, Billie Dean and husband Bill Reed of Carlisle, Debbie Thomason of Louisiana, Rosemary and husband Teddy Hoskins of Kentucky, Pamela and husband Craig Blackard of Lonoke and Jimmy Ray “Rowdy” and wife Beverly Glover of Kentucky; brothers and sisters, Shirley Lewis of East End, Charlotte Kinslow and Dixie Rye of Lonoke, Sonny Glover of Cherokee Village and Ray Glover of Carlisle; grandchildren, Brooke, Zack and Tyler Reed of Carlisle, Carmen Fletcher of Louisiana, Heather, Ryan and Kaci Hoskins, Megan and Paige Glover , all of Kentucky and Taylor and Peyton Blackard of Lonoke.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Marvin and Essie Glover and a sister Rosemary Glover. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Sunday at Lonoke Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Arrangements by Boyd Funeral Home of Lonoke.
JEAN HAZEL
Jean R. Hazel, 73, of El Paso, was born Sept. 11, 1932, in El Paso to James “Sam” and Bessie Riley; and died July 4. She was owner of Jean Hazel Tax Co., and was a member of Oak Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Raymond G. Hazel, and her stepdaughter, Charlotte Rogers.
She is survived by one stepdaughter, Phyllis Bohannon of Florida; one stepson-in-law, Paul Rogers of El Paso; five brothers, James and wife Alice Riley of Ward, Tom, Sr. and wife Lela Riley, Jerry and wife Lula Riley, Doug and wife Kay Riley and Don and wife Arlena Riley, all of El Paso; four step-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren. Funeral will be services were held Friday at Westbrook Funeral Home, with burial in Blasingame Cemetery.
JEROLD MULLOY
Jerold Alan Mulloy, 62, of Jacksonville, died June 30. He was born July 23, 1943. He served as a captain in the Marines. He received the purple heart for injuries sustained in Vietnam and was a member of the Retired Military Association. Survivors include his wife, Wanda Wooten Mulloy of Jacksonville, daughters; Shannon Hickman and husband Michael of Ashland, Ore., and Shelly Mulloy of Jacksonville, his mother, Grace Mulloy of Yreka, Calif., brother, Larry Mulloy of Yreka, Calif., and grandchildren; Franklin LimeMa Mulloy and Kathy Mulloy. Private services will be set at a later date. Funeral arrangements are under direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
MABEL WILLIAMS
Mabel Blakeley Williams 93, of Jacksonville died July 4. She was a native of Sparkman. She was born Dec. 28, 1912, to Henry J. and Lucy Avant Blakeley.
She graduated from Sparkman High School in 1930, where she was a member of the nationally known girls basketball team the “Sparkman Sparklers.”
The team participated in three national tournaments at Witchita, Kan., during high school and two such tournaments in college, placing high in each tournament. The team was recently inducted into the Dallas County Sports Hall of Fame.
She attended Crescent College, a Junior College for Girls, where she earned an Associate of Arts degree. After college, she married Stuart Williams, had two sons, and settled in Jacksonville. She was an officer of First Arkansas Bank and Trust. She was a member of First United Methodist Church; a Fifty-plus year member and past Matron and Deputy Grand Lecturer of the Order of the Eastern Star; Past President of National Business and Professional Women; Wesleyan Service Guild; Demolay Mother; Cub Scout Den Mother; and Former Member of the National Association of Bank Women. She was also an avid Bridge Player for over 50 years and wrote a weekly column, “Reveries” for the Jacksonville Daily News for several years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Stuart Williams; a brother, Jim Blakely; a sister, Marguerite Brittan; and her parents. Survivors include her two sons, Lt. Col. (Ret.) James R. (Bob) Williams and wife Ethel of Ocean Springs, MS; and Jack M. Williams and his wife Betty of Roswell, GA; three grandsons, Bret Williams, Kelly Williams, and Tim Mull-inax; two granddaughters, Rebecca Smith and Shaney Malloy; four great granddaughters and two great grandsons. She is also survived by a sister, Rachel Heffner of Pine Bluff, AR and her very special best friend of sixty years, Melda Rice.
Funeral Services were held Friday at First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville with Rev. Carol Goddard officiating. Internment followed at Rest Hills Memorial Park in Sherwood. Funeral arrangements by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home. The Leader published a feature on Williams on June 14.
SPORTS >> Jacksonville High getting big new scoreboard
BY RAY BENTON
IN SHORT: Jan Crow Stadium is undergoing a facelift this summer. A new jumbo-tron scoreboard will accompany improvements to the press box and visitors side bleachers for the fall.
Renovations have been ongoing at Jacksonville High School’s Jan Crow Stadium throughout the summer break, and the biggest improvement is just beginning. The scoreboard on the north end of the football field was taken down Friday, and will be replaced by a new, larger one that will feature electronic advertising and a jumbo-tron screen.
Plans for the new scoreboard were hatched by local volunteer John Wolford, who has been running the scoreboard for JHS from the press box for several years.
“He (Wolford) came to me with the idea,” Jacksonville athletics coordinator Jerry Wilson said. “He’s been helping out here for years. He don’t have a kid in the program, he just loves his community and works hard for us. We took the idea to a few businesses and they jumped right in to help.”
The biggest financial backer of the renovations, which includes several other projects beside the new scoreboard, has been First Arkansas Bank and Trust.
“We took the idea to Larry Wilson (bank president),” Wilson said. “He asked us to let him think about it, and he agreed to do it that same day. It’s just another example of how committed he is to his community also. They’ve done so much for this town we couldn’t even count it.”
Gwatney Chevrolet and Sonic also donated large sums to the project. Local contractor Ronnie Hayden and the city of Jacksonville have also aided in the renovations.
Among the other improvements, the press box is getting new siding on the outside and paneling on the inside. Wilson also hopes to get the large window on the front of the press box tinted.
The JHS Booster Club is repainting the bleachers, while Hayden and the city have been instrumental in cleaning up the visitors stands and the area behind the south end zone.
“We’re trying to get all that cleaned out so we can put in a new fence line,” Wilson said. “We hope to have all that done so we can put in another gate on that side. We want to set up a ticket booth over there to accommodate the visitors.
The total dollar amount of the project, according to Wilson, is around $125,000.
“The good thing about that is it’s not coming out of our budget,” Wilson said. “This is all paid for by support from our community, and I can’t express how much we appreciate that.”
Wilson hopes the projects will be complete by the beginning of the season.
“That’s the goal, but that’s coming up on us real fast. I didn’t even realize how close it was.”
IN SHORT: Jan Crow Stadium is undergoing a facelift this summer. A new jumbo-tron scoreboard will accompany improvements to the press box and visitors side bleachers for the fall.
Renovations have been ongoing at Jacksonville High School’s Jan Crow Stadium throughout the summer break, and the biggest improvement is just beginning. The scoreboard on the north end of the football field was taken down Friday, and will be replaced by a new, larger one that will feature electronic advertising and a jumbo-tron screen.
Plans for the new scoreboard were hatched by local volunteer John Wolford, who has been running the scoreboard for JHS from the press box for several years.
“He (Wolford) came to me with the idea,” Jacksonville athletics coordinator Jerry Wilson said. “He’s been helping out here for years. He don’t have a kid in the program, he just loves his community and works hard for us. We took the idea to a few businesses and they jumped right in to help.”
The biggest financial backer of the renovations, which includes several other projects beside the new scoreboard, has been First Arkansas Bank and Trust.
“We took the idea to Larry Wilson (bank president),” Wilson said. “He asked us to let him think about it, and he agreed to do it that same day. It’s just another example of how committed he is to his community also. They’ve done so much for this town we couldn’t even count it.”
Gwatney Chevrolet and Sonic also donated large sums to the project. Local contractor Ronnie Hayden and the city of Jacksonville have also aided in the renovations.
Among the other improvements, the press box is getting new siding on the outside and paneling on the inside. Wilson also hopes to get the large window on the front of the press box tinted.
The JHS Booster Club is repainting the bleachers, while Hayden and the city have been instrumental in cleaning up the visitors stands and the area behind the south end zone.
“We’re trying to get all that cleaned out so we can put in a new fence line,” Wilson said. “We hope to have all that done so we can put in another gate on that side. We want to set up a ticket booth over there to accommodate the visitors.
The total dollar amount of the project, according to Wilson, is around $125,000.
“The good thing about that is it’s not coming out of our budget,” Wilson said. “This is all paid for by support from our community, and I can’t express how much we appreciate that.”
Wilson hopes the projects will be complete by the beginning of the season.
“That’s the goal, but that’s coming up on us real fast. I didn’t even realize how close it was.”
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